The Date-A-Base Book 2015

Copyright © Dave and Kate Haslett 2014

First published in Great Britain in 2014 by ideas4writers 2a New Street Cullompton Devon EX15 1HA

The right of Dave and Kate Haslett to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be stored, copied or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the authors

Please help support ideas4writers by telling people about this book! Introduction

Welcome to the eighth edition of The Date-A-Base Book!

As always, every entry has been cross-checked in Encyclopaedia Britannica and on official websites and other sources. This is not an easy process as there’s an awful lot of “disinformation” out there, and it’s definitely getting worse. Whenever there was doubt – which there frequently was – we’ve tried to go back to the original source. Even so, we advise you to double-check each date before using it, and satisfy yourself that it is 100% correct. If you come across any mistakes please let us know.

We’ll post any corrections we hear about on the official ideas4writers blog: http://ideas4writers.wordpress.com

As far as possible we’ve used New Style (NS) dates from the Gregorian calendar.

Celebrities are notorious for knocking a few years off their ages. Wherever possible we’ve given both their real and claimed dates of birth, and noted which is which. Similarly, they don’t always go by their real names, so we’ve used the names by which they are most commonly known. Their real names can easily be found in Encyclopaedia Britannica, Wikipedia, and other sources.

With such a vast number of worthy people to choose from, we elected to list only those who are included in Encyclopaedia Britannica, or those we’ve definitely heard of. We apologise if a few non-British household names didn’t make the final cut.

We have generally not included living people, except for royalty, prime ministers and presidents.

It was not possible to include every significant event from every war. We’ve chosen what we think are the main ones, but if we’ve left out something that you think should have been included please let us know.

How to use this book

The Ann. column gives the anniversary of each entry, so 750 means the 750th anniversary of that event. The date on which the event took place is listed next, followed by a brief description.

The most obvious way to use this book is to choose the entries that interest you, then write news reports, newspaper and magazine articles, short stories, novels, essays, stage plays, screenplays, poems, jokes, non-fiction books, guidebooks, biographies, TV/ radio features, and so on about them.

But how about thinking ‘outside the box’? For example, you might try to see the event through the eyes of someone who was there at the time. Or think about how the world might have been different if that person hadn’t been born or had done something else, or if an event hadn’t taken place, or if it had happened in a different way. You could also use an event, or a series of them, as background detail in a novel or screenplay. Have your characters think about the events, and talk about them. Perhaps they could influence the event, or be influenced by it.

What most publishers, broadcasters and producers are looking for is something original; something that hasn’t been done before. They don’t want the same old summary of a person’s life, or a potted history and timeline of an event. They can probably write that in-house anyway, using their own staff writers – though it’s always worth making an enquiry, just in case. But you’ll usually have more success if you aim to provide them with something different, more compelling, a new angle; something that ties in with the date of the event, but which can run alongside their more general features.

If you’re writing about a person, don’t just focus on his accomplishments; have a look at the other things going on in his life: problems, interests, hobbies, associations, relatives and relationships, fans, and so on. See if you can tie that in with one of your own areas of interest – you probably already read publications and visit websites related to that interest, so that is the market to aim for.

See if you can relate the item to something from your own life, or use it as a trigger to set off a series of memories and reminiscences that could lead to a new writing project. If you haven’t written much before, or have never had anything published, try using the item as a starting point and write a letter about it to the editor of your local newspaper or your favourite magazine. Then see if you can get the coveted ‘star letter’ slot. Once you’ve achieved that, move on to other things such as short articles.

Don’t limit yourself to printed publications. There are plenty of online publications that need writers, and some of them will even pay you. And don’t limit yourself to your own country – there’s a whole world out there that’s interested in what you have to say.

Timing is important too, of course. You need to start work well in advance of the anniversary, so that your finished piece of writing appears in print – or on stage or screen – at exactly the right time. Most magazines work several months in advance, and if you’re writing for the stage or screen you might need to have your script ready more than a year before the anniversary occurs. So you should look at getting the next edition of The Date-A-Base Book as soon as it becomes available!

Dave and Kate Haslett [email protected] The Date-A-Base Book 2015

JANUARY 2015

Ann. Date Event 750 20 Jan 1265 The first English parliament was convened in Westminster Hall (now Westminster Palace), London by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester. (It was dissolved by King Henry III on 15th Feb.) 500 1 Jan 1515 Death of King Louis XII of France; succeeded by Francis I. 400 14 Jan 1615 Birth of John Biddle, controversial English theologian, known as ‘the father of English Unitarianism’. 400 25 Jan 1615 Birth of Govert Flinck, Dutch Baroque artist, particularly known for his portraits. Influenced by Rembrandt. 400 31 Jan 1615 Death of Claudio Aquaviva, Italian Jesuit priest. A highly regarded leader of the Society of Jesus. 300 26 Jan 1715 Birth of Claude-Adrien Helvétius, French philosopher. (or 26 Feb?) 200 1 Jan 1815 Birth of Charles Bernard Renouvier, French neocritical philosopher. 200 3 Jan 1815 Austria, Britain and France signed a secret defence treaty, pledging mutual assistance if any of them were attacked by Prussia or Russia. 200 8 Jan 1815 War of 1812 – the Battle of New Orleans; U.S. Victory. The last major battle of the war.

200 11 Jan 1815 Birth of Sir John Macdonald, 1st Prime Minister of Canada. 200 13 Jan 1815 War of 1812 – the Battle of Fort Peter, St. Marys, Georgia; (to 14th) the only battle of this war to take place in Georgia; British victory. 200 15 Jan 1815 Death of Emma, Lady Hamilton, mistress of British naval hero Lord Nelson. 200 16 Jan 1815 Birth of Henry W. Halleck, (‘Old Brains’), U.S. Army general during the Civil War. 200 18 Jan 1815 Birth of Constantin (also spelled Konstantin) von Tischendorf, German biblical scholar who discovered the Codex Sinaiticus and deciphered the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus. 200 21 Jan 1815 Birth of Horace Wells, American dentist who pioneered the use of surgical anaesthesia. 200 21 Jan 1815 Death of Matthias Claudius, German poet. 200 30 Jan 1815 U.S. Congress approved the purchase of former President Thomas Jefferson’s collection of 6,487 books, replacing those lost when the Library of Congress was destroyed in the War of 1812. (The collection was housed in a hotel until 1824 when it was moved back to the Capitol.) 175 1 Jan 1840 The first indoor bowling alley in the USA opened at Knickerbocker Alleys in New York City, and the first recorded bowling match in the USA was played there. (9 pins were used, whereas today’s game uses 10 pins.) 175 3 Jan 1840 British naval officer and explorer James Clark Ross carried out the first deep-sea sounding. He used a sounding weight to measure the depth of the ocean near Antarctica and reached a depth of 3,700m (12,140 feet). 175 10 Jan 1840 The Penny Post was established throughout the UK. 175 13 Jan 1840 The U.S. paddle steamer Lexington caught fire and sank off Long Island, (to 14th) New York, killing 139 people. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 5 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 175 22 Jan 1840 The first British colonists to New Zealand arrived at Port Nicholson (now Wellington Harbour) and established a settlement. (The ground proved too swampy to build on, and the settlement, then known as Britannia, was relocated to the present site of Wellington later that year.) 175 22 Jan 1840 A French expedition led by Jules Dumont d’Urville first sighted ? Antarctica. The area is now known as Adélie Land, named after his wife. (See also 25th Jan below. Due to discrepancies and subsequent alterations in the ships’ logs it is impossible to determine whether the U.S. or French expeditions were the first to discover Antarctica.) 175 25 Jan 1840 The United States Exploring Expedition, led by Captain Charles Wilkes, ? first sighted Antarctica. The area is now known as Wilkes Land in his honour. (See also 22nd Jan above.) 150 1 Jan 1865 American Civil War – the Carolinas Campaign; Union victory. (to 26 Apr) 150 3 Jan 1865 Birth of Sir Henry Lytton, British comic actor and singer. Known for his leading roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. 150 4 Jan 1865 The New York Stock Exchange moved to its first permanent headquarters at 10–12 Broad Street. 150 10 Jan 1865 Birth of Mary Ingalls, American folk/literary figure who became blind due to illness at the age of 14. (Her sister Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the Little House on the Prairie series of books, based on their childhoods.) 150 13 Jan 1865 American Civil War – the second Battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina; (to 15th) Union victory. 150 16 Jan 1865 American Civil War: U.S. General William Sherman issued his Special Field Orders number 15, which provided land along the Atlantic coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida for settlement by freed slave families and other African Americans living in the area. 150 16 Jan 1865 The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper was launched in the USA (as The Daily Dramatic Chronicle). 150 19 Jan 1865 The Bank of Suriname was established in Paramaribo. (It opened for business on 18th July.) 150 19 Jan 1865 Death of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, French journalist, politician, libertarian socialist and anarchist. 150 28 Jan 1865 Birth of Lala Lajpat Rai, Indian writer and politician. A leader in the Indian fight for independence from the British Raj. Known for his militant anti-British nationalism. 150 28 Jan 1865 Birth of Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg, first president of Finland (1919–25). 150 31 Jan 1865 American Civil War: Robert E. Lee became general-in-chief of the Confederate forces. 150 31 Jan 1865 Birth of Henri Desgrange, French cyclist and sports journalist who organised the first Tour de France in 1903. 150 31 Jan 1865 Birth of Saint Tikhon of Moscow, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox (or 31 Dec?) Church (1917–25). 125 1 Jan 1890 Eritrea became an Italian colony. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 6 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 125 1 Jan 1890 The first Tournament of Roses Parade (also known as the Rose Parade) was held in Pasadena, California, USA. 125 2 Jan 1890 Alice Sanger began working as a stenographer to U.S. President Benjamin Harrison, becoming the first female member of the White House staff (apart from those in domestic service). 125 21 Jan 1890 Propria Cures (meaning: Mind Your Own Business), the Dutch satirical student newspaper, was first published. 125 22 Jan 1890 United Mine Workers of America founded in Columbus, Ohio. 125 25 Jan 1890 The National Afro-American League was founded in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was a predecessor of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and was dissolved in 1893. 125 25 Jan 1890 American journalist Nellie Bly completed her famous journey around the world in 72 days, beating the fictional character Phileas Fogg’s time in Around the World in Eighty Days by 8 days. 125 28 Jan 1890 Birth of Robert Stroud, (‘the Birdman of Alcatraz’), notorious American criminal and ornithologist. 100 1 Jan 1915 World War I: the British battleship HMS Formidable was torpedoed and sunk by Germany while on exercise in the English Channel. 547 crew were killed. 100 2 Jan 1915 World War I: German Army Major Karl von Zinglery reported that chlorine gas had been used against British forces, killing 140 of them. This was the first known use of chemical warfare in WWI. (On 31st Jan, during the Battle of Bolimov, Germany launched a tear gas [xylyl bromide] attack against Russia, but the chemical froze in the harsh conditions and was ineffective.) 100 2 Jan 1915 Birth of John Hope Franklin, American historian and educator. Noted for his work on racial equality. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 100 2 Jan 1915 Death of Karl (also spelled Carl) Goldmark, Hungarian composer. 100 3 Jan 1915 Birth of Jack Levine, American social realist artist. Known for his satires. 100 9 Jan 1915 Birth of Herbert Huncke, American writer and poet. An associate (or 9 Dec?) of Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs. Noted for his ‘outlaw’ lifestyle. Reputed to have coined the term ‘Beat Generation’. 100 11 Jan 1915 Birth of Robert Blair (‘Paddy’) Mayne, Northern Irish soldier in the British Army, lawyer, and rugby international. A founding member of the Special Air Service (SAS). Highly decorated for his WWII service but controversially denied a Victoria Cross. 100 12 Jan 1915 The U.S. House of Representatives voted to reject a constitutional amendment that would have given women the right to vote. (The 19th Amendment, giving women the vote, was passed in 1920.) 100 12 Jan 1915 Birth of Martin Agronsky, award-winning American broadcast journalist. Known for his coverage of notable events, and interviews with key figures. Host of the TV series Agronsky & Co. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 7 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 12 Jan 1915 Birth of Paul Jarrico, American screenwriter and film producer. Blacklisted by Hollywood for ‘un-American activities’ during the McCarthyism era of the 1950s. 100 13 Jan 1915 Avezzano Earthquake, Italy. Over 30,000 people were killed. 100 14 Jan 1915 Birth of André Frossard, French journalist and writer. Best known for his Roman Catholic works. 100 14 Jan 1915 Birth of Mark Goodson, award-winning American radio and TV (or 24th?) producer. Known for developing game shows. 100 15 Jan 1915 Birth of Alan Lomax, American folklorist, ethnomusicologist and (or 31st?) musician. One of the leading folk-music scholars of the 20th century. 100 18 Jan 1915 Japan presented China with a list of 21 demands, granting Japan control of various territories and laws, and warning of dire consequences if the demands were not met. (After negotiation, a reduced set of demands was agreed in a treaty signed on 25th May, though it gave Japan little more control than it already had.) 100 19 Jan 1915 World War I: the first German Zeppelin air raid on Britain. (to 20th) 24 bombs were dropped on Great Yarmouth, Sheringham, King’s Lynn and surrounding villages in Norfolk, killing 4 people and injuring 16. 100 20 Jan 1915 Birth of Ghulam Ishaq Khan, President of Pakistan (1988–93). 100 21 Jan 1915 Kiwanis International, a worldwide network of community service/ educational clubs, was established in Detroit, Michigan, USA. 100 23 Jan 1915 Birth of Herma Bauma, Austrian javelin thrower. Gold medallist at the 1948 Olympics. 100 23 Jan 1915 Birth of Arthur Lewis, Saint Lucian economist. Winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize for Economics for his pioneering research into economic development. 100 23 Jan 1915 Birth of Potter Stewart, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1958–81). 100 24 Jan 1915 World War I – the Battle of Dogger Bank, North Sea; British victory. 100 24 Jan 1915 Birth of Robert Motherwell, American abstract expressionist artist. One of the first to incorporate ‘accidental’ elements into his work. 100 25 Jan 1915 Alexander Graham Bell inaugurated the first U.S. transcontinental telephone service (AT&T). Bell (in New York City) called his former assistant, Thomas Watson (in San Francisco). 100 26 Jan 1915 World War I – German/Ottoman Raid on the Suez Canal, Egypt; (to 4th Feb) British victory. 100 26 Jan 1915 Rocky Mountain National Park was established in Colorado, USA. 100 28 Jan 1915 The United States Coast Guard was established when the Revenue Cutter Service and the United States Life-Saving Service were merged. 100 28 Jan 1915 Birth of Nien Cheng, Chinese-born American dissident writer. Imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution, and best known for her account of her harrowing experience. 100 29 Jan 1915 Birth of Halfdan Rasmussen, Danish poet. Known for his work on social protest and human rights issues, and for his nonsense verse for children. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 8 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 30 Jan 1915 World War I: German U-boats attacked Le Havre, France. 100 30 Jan 1915 Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast L’Hommedieu Huston bought the New York Yankies baseball team for $460,000 (Wikipedia says $1.25 million). Huston sold his share of the team to Ruppert in 1922. 100 30 Jan 1915 Birth of John Profumo, British politician, Secretary of State for War who was forced to resign over the 1963 Profumo Affair – one of the most infamous sex scandals of the 20th century. 100 31 Jan 1915 Birth of Bobby Hackett, American jazz trumpeter, cornet player, guitarist and bandleader. Known for his work with Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and, most notably, Jackie Gleason. 100 31 Jan 1915 Birth of Thomas Merton, French-born American monk, poet and writer. Known for his work on spiritual and social themes. One of the most important U.S. Roman Catholic writers of the 20th century. 100 31 Jan 1915 Birth of Garry Moore, American TV entertainer, comedian and game show host (The Garry Moore Show, I’ve Got a Secret, To Tell the Truth). 90 1 Jan 1925 Oslo in Norway returned to using its original name, having been known as Christiania since 1624 and Kristiania since 1877. 90 3 Jan 1925 Benito Mussolini declared himself dictator of Italy. 90 4 Jan 1925 French psychologist and self-help guru Émile Coué arrived in the USA. He immediately became a huge celebrity, founded self-help institutes, and his book Self-Mastery Through Conscious Autosuggestion became a bestseller. He is best known for encouraging people to repeat the phrase ‘Every day in every way I am getting better and better’. 90 5 Jan 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became Governor of Wyoming – the first female governor in the USA. 90 6 Jan 1925 Birth of John DeLorean, American motor vehicle engineer and executive (General Motors and the DeLorean Motor Company). Career tainted by drug trafficking/financial scandals. (Died 2005.) 90 7 Jan 1925 Birth of Gerald Durrell, Indian-born British naturalist, conservationist, zoo keeper, author and TV presenter. (Died 1995.) 90 8 Jan 1925 The first all-female state Supreme Court in the USA sat in Texas. (They met for 5 months to hear a case involving a fraternal organisation to which practically all the male elected officials and lawyers in the state belonged. The only way to ensure an impartial verdict was for women to decide the case.) 90 9 Jan 1925 Birth of Lee Van Cleef, American film actor. Known for his Westerns and action movies (High Noon, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and others). (Died 1989.) 90 15 Jan 1925 Hans Luther became Chancellor of Germany. 90 15 Jan 1925 Leon Trotsky was removed from his posts as Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Soviet Union and leader of the Red Army. 90 24 Jan 1925 Rickard Sandler became Prime Minister of Sweden. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 9 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 90 26 Jan 1925 The serum run to Nome, Alaska (also known as the Great Race of Mercy). (to 2nd Feb) With a diphtheria epidemic threatening the city of Nome and no planes available to carry an anti-toxin, dog-sledders worked in relays to carry a canister of serum 674 miles (1,085 km) in five days. (This event is now commemorated in the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.) 90 26 Jan 1925 Birth of Paul Newman, Academy Award-winning American film actor, director, entrepreneur and philanthropist (The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and others). (Died 2008.) 90 30 Jan 1925 Ecumenical Patriarch Constantine VI of Constantinople was exiled to Greece by the Turkish Government. 80 1 Jan 1935 The first Orange Bowl college football game was held, in Florida, USA. 80 1 Jan 1935 The first Sugar Bowl college football game was held, in Louisiana, USA. 80 1 Jan 1935 The first Sun Bowl college football game was held in Texas, USA. 80 2 Jan 1935 The trial of Bruno Hauptmann for the murder of American aviator Charles (to 13th Feb) Lindbergh’s infant son. (Hauptmann was founded guilty and sentenced to death. Executed 3rd April 1936.) 80 4 Jan 1935 Fort Jefferson National Monument (now Dry Tortugas National Park) was established in Florida, USA. 80 4 Jan 1935 The Mosul–Haifa oil pipeline began operating, sending crude oil from Iraq to the Mediterranean port of Haifa (now in Israel, but then part of the British Mandate of Palestine). It was strategically important in WWII, providing fuel to British and U.S. forces in the Mediterranean. 80 4 Jan 1935 Bob Hope made his first appearance on national radio in the USA, as master of ceremonies on the show The Intimate Revue. 80 4 Jan 1935 Birth of Floyd Patterson, American world heavyweight boxing champion. (Died 2006.) 80 6 Jan 1935 Death of George Pierce Baker, American teacher who taught dramatic techniques to some of the most notable American dramatists and novelists including Eugene O’Neill, Sidney Howard and Thomas Wolfe. 80 7 Jan 1935 The Italo–French agreements were signed in Rome by the Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini and the French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval. France granted Italy control of disputed territories and allowed Italy to invade Ethiopia without interference (the Second Italo–Ethiopian War). In exchange Italy agreed to support France against German aggression. (Mussolini broke the agreement and allied with Nazi Germany in 1939, ahead of WWII.) 80 8 Jan 1935 American physicist Arthur C. Hardy was granted a patent for the first spectrophotometer, used to measure the transmission and absorption of light from a material. 80 8 Jan 1935 Birth of Elvis Presley, (‘The King’), iconic American rock and roll singer, guitarist and actor. (Died 1977.) 80 9 Jan 1935 Birth of Bob Denver, American film and television actor (The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Gilligan’s Island). (Died 2005.) 80 10 Jan 1935 Death of Edwin Flack, Australian sprinter and tennis player. The first Australian Olympic champion. (As Australia’s only competitor at the 1896 games he won gold in the 800m and 1500m and took part in the tennis.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 10 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 11 Jan 1935 American aviator Amelia Earhart made the first solo flight from Hawaii to California. 80 16 Jan 1935 Death of Ma Barker, American criminal. Matriarch of a notorious gang of outlaws in the 1920s–30s. (Shot dead in a gun battle with the FBI.) 80 19 Jan 1935 Men’s briefs (also known as Jockey shorts or Y-fronts) were first sold by Coopers, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois, USA. (UK: 1938.) 80 21 Jan 1935 The Wilderness Society was founded in the USA. 80 24 Jan 1935 The first canned beer went on sale (Krueger’s Cream Ale and Krueger’s Finest Beer) in Virginia, USA. (It was an immediate success.) 80 28 Jan 1935 Iceland became the first Western country to legalise abortion. 80 28 Jan 1935 Death of Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, Russian composer, conductor and teacher. Known for his orchestral works and operas. 80 30 Jan 1935 Birth of Richard Brautigan, American novelist, short story writer and poet who employed dark comedy, irony and satire. Best known for his novel Trout Fishing in America. (Died 1984.) 75 5 Jan 1940 Edwin H. Armstrong demonstrated FM radio broadcasting over a long- distance relay network, using 5 radio stations each in a different U.S. state. 75 6 Jan 1940 Birth of Van McCoy, American musician, record producer and songwriter. Best known for his hit song The Hustle. (Died 1979.) 75 8 Jan 1940 World War II: food rationing began in Britain (bacon, butter and sugar). 75 11 Jan 1940 Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet was first performed at the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, Russia. (An earlier version was performed in Dec 1938, but the significantly revised 1940 version is the one audiences are most familiar with.) 75 18 Jan 1940 Death of Kazimierz Przerwa Tetmajer, Polish writer, journalist and poet. A member of the Young Poland movement. 75 19 Jan 1940 Birth of Mike Reid, British actor, comedian and TV presenter. Noted for his brash cockney accent. Played Frank Butcher in the TV soap opera EastEnders. (Died 2007.) 75 22 Jan 1940 Birth of Addie (‘Micki’) Harris, American singer (The Shirelles). (Died 1982.) 75 27 Jan 1940 Death of Isaak Emmanuilovich Babel, acclaimed Soviet/Ukrainian short story writer. (Executed.) 75 30 Jan 1940 Benjamin Britten’s song cycle Les Illuminations was first performed, in London. 75 31 Jan 1940 The first Social Security cheque in the USA was issued to Ida May Fuller of Vermont. 75 31 Jan 1940 Death of René Schickele, German-born French journalist, poet, novelist and playwright. 70 1 Jan 1945 World War II – the Battle of the Bulge – Operation Bodenplatte. The German Luftwaffe launched a failed attempt to cripple Allied air power in the Low Countries in a single blow.

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nn. Date Event 70 2 Jan 1945 World War II: the British RAF and U.S. Army Air Force bombed the city of Nuremburg, Germany, destroying 90% of its medieval centre within one hour. 70 2 Jan 1945 World War II – the Burma Campaign – the Allies landed on the west coast (to 3rd) of Burma and occupied Akyab Island, which the Japanese had abandoned. (The Allies secured the entire southern coast by the end of the month.) 70 3 Jan 1945 Nikolaos Plastiras became Prime Minister of Greece (the first of 3 occasions). 70 3 Jan 1945 Death of Edgar Cayce, American psychic and faith healer. 70 12 Jan 1945 World War II – the Eastern Front – the Vistula–Oder Offensive, central (to 2nd Feb) Poland and eastern Germany. A massive Red Army operation involving more than 2 million infantry; Soviet victory. 70 15 Jan 1945 World War II: the Soviet Red Army liberated the city of Krakow, Poland. 70 16 Jan 1945 World War II: Adolf Hitler took up residence in the Führerbunker, a subterranean bunker complex in the garden of the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. It became the headquarters of the Nazi regime until Hitler committed suicide there in April. 70 17 Jan 1945 World War II: the Soviet Red Army liberated Warsaw, Poland. The city had been almost completely destroyed by the Germans. 70 17 Jan 1945 World War II: the Soviet Red Army liberated Budapest, Hungary. 70 17 Jan 1945 Holocaust: the Nazis began evacuating 58,000 prisoners from Auschwitz concentration camp as the Soviet Red Army closed in. Thousands died on the subsequent death march to Bergen-Belsen. 70 17 Jan 1945 Holocaust: Swedish diplomat and humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg, who rescued tens of thousands of Jews in Hungary during the Holocaust, was arrested for espionage by Soviet authorities. He was never seen again. (He was reported to have died in a Soviet prison in July 1947, though this is disputed.) 70 19 Jan 1945

70 20 Jan 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated as President of the United States for an unprecedented fourth term. (He died in April of that year.) 70 20 Jan 1945 World War II: Hungary signed an armistice with the Allies in Moscow and officially dropped out of the war. 70 23 Jan 1945 World War II – Operation Hannibal. Germany evacuated 1.8 million (to May) civilians and military personnel across the Baltic Sea from East Prussia and the neighbouring area as the Soviet Red Army advanced. This was one of the largest emergency evacuations by sea in history, with more than three times the number of people evacuated than from Dunkirk. 70 24 Jan 1945 (to 23 Feb) older part of the city was left in ruins.

70 25 Jan 1945 World War II: the Battle of the Bulge (began 16th Dec 1944) ended when Germany’s Operation North Wind failed. This was the last major German offensive on the Western Front. Allied victory. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 12 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 70 25 Jan 1945 World War II: the Burma Road linking Burma with south-west China was reopened by the Allies. The first supply trucks reached China on 28th. (The road had been closed since 1942 when the Japanese occupied Burma. China was supplied by air during this period.) 70 25 Jan 1945 Holocaust: The Nazis began evacuating Stutthof concentration camp in (to 26th) Poland. About 25,000 prisoners were sent on a 10-day march with only 2 days’ food supply. Thousands died on the journey. Another 5,000 were forcibly marched into the Baltic Sea and machine-gunned. 70 26 Jan 1945 Birth of Jacqueline du Pré, British cellist. (Died 1987.) 70 27 Jan 1945 Holocaust: the Soviet Red Army liberated Auschwitz concentration camp in southern Poland. It was the largest Nazi concentration camp. At least 1.1 million prisoners died there. 70 27 Jan 1945 World War II: Nazi occupiers blocked food transportation to the densely populated western Netherlands. It was already experiencing famine due to a severe winter, destroyed bridges and docks, and flooded farmland. Around 22,000 people died during the ‘Hunger Winter’. 70 28 Jan 1945 World War II: Swedish Red Cross ships reached the Netherlands, bringing food to the starving people (see 27th above). The Nazis refused to allow the food to be distributed until the end of February. 70 30 Jan 1945 The German ship Wilhelm Gustloff, packed with refugees during Operation Hannibal (see 23rd Jan above), was hit by a Soviet torpedo and sank in the Baltic Sea. More than 9,000 people were killed. This remains the largest loss of life in history from a single ship sinking. 70 30 Jan 1945 World War II – the Raid at Cabanatuan (also known as The Great Raid). More than 550 Allied prisoners-of-war were liberated from the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines. 70 31 Jan 1945 World War II – the Battle of Bataan, Philippines; Allied victory. The (to 21 Feb) strategically important peninsula was recaptured from the Japanese who had held it since April 1942. This opened up additional supply lines to U.S. troops fighting in the Battle of Manila, which was won on 3rd March. 65 6 Jan 1950 The United Kingdom officially recognised the People’s Republic of China and established diplomatic relations. The Republic of China (Taiwan) severed relations with the United Kingdom in response. 65 18 Jan 1950 Birth of Gilles Villeneuve, Canadian racing driver. (Died 1982.) 65 21 Jan 1950 Death of George Orwell, British novelist, journalist and critic. Best known for his novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-four. 65 26 Jan 1950 India became an independent republic, with Rajendra Prasad as its first president. 65 31 Jan 1950 U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced that he had ordered the Atomic Energy Commission to develop the hydrogen bomb. (The first prototype, ‘Ivy Mike’, was detonated in Nov 1952.) 60 2 Jan 1955 Death of José Antonio Remón, President of Panama (1952–55). (Assassinated). Succeeded by José Ramón Guizado. 60 7 Jan 1955 American contralto Marian Anderson became the first black person to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 13 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 11 Jan 1955 Death of Rodolfo Graziani, Italian field marshal, Minister of Defence, and leader of the Italian neofascist movement. 60 15 Jan 1955 Death of Yves Tanguy, French-born American surrealist artist. 60 19 Jan 1955 U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the first televised presidential news conference. The conference was filmed in the morning and shown on television that evening. (The first live conference was given by John F. Kennedy in Jan 1961.) 60 21 Jan 1955 Death of Archie Hahn, American athlete and coach. One of the best sprinters of the 20th century. Won 3 gold medals at the 1904 Olympics. 60 22 Jan 1955 Einar Gerhardsen became Prime Minister of Norway for the second time (of three). 60 25 Jan 1955 The Soviet Union ended its state of war with Germany, which had existed since 1941. 60 29 Jan 1955 Death of Hans Hedtoft, Prime Minister of Denmark (1947–50, 1953–55). 60 31 Jan 1955 RCA unveiled the first electronic music synthesizer to the public. 60 31 Jan 1955 Death of John Mott, American evangelist and YMCA leader. Winner of the 1946 Nobel Peace Prize. 50 1 Jan 1965 International Co-operation Year. (to 31 Dec) 50 1 Jan 1965 The People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan was founded. (Dissolved 1992.) 50 4 Jan 1965 Death of T. S. Eliot, American-born British poet, playwright, literary critic and editor. Winner of the 1948 Nobel Prize for Literature. 50 12 Jan 1965 Death of Lorraine Hansberry, American playwright. Known for A Raisin in the Sun – the first play by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway. 50 14 Jan 1965 Birth of Shamil Basayev, Chechen terrorist. Responsible for numerous guerilla attacks and hostage-takings including the 2002 Moscow theatre crisis and the 2004 Beslan school siege. One of the world’s most-wanted terrorists. (Died 2006.) 50 14 Jan 1965 Death of Jeanette MacDonald, American stage, film, radio and TV singer and actress. Best known for starring in musical films of the 1930s. She was also one of the most influential operatic sopranos of the 20th century. 50 15 Jan 1965 British rock band The Who released their first single (as The Who) in the UK: I Can't Explain. (Released Dec 1964 in the USA.) 50 20 Jan 1965 Lyndon B. Johnson was inaugurated as President of the United States for a second term. 50 20 Jan 1965 Indonesia announced its withdrawal from the United Nations – the first nation to do so. (The UN recognised this only as a ‘cessation of cooperation’ rather than a complete withdrawal, and Indonesia resumed full participation in Sept 1966.) 50 20 Jan 1965 Death of Alan Freed, American radio DJ who coined the term ‘rock and roll’. Career ended by payola scandal.

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Ann. Date Event 50 21 Jan 1965 Birth of Jam Master Jay, American rap musician, record producer and DJ (Run–D.M.C.). (Died 2002.) 50 22 Jan 1965 The Prime Minister of Iran, Hassan Ali Mansur, was shot and mortally wounded by an assassin in Tehran. (He died on 27th.) 50 24 Jan 1965 Death of Sir Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister (1940–45, 1951–55). One of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th Century. Named ‘the Greatest Briton of all time’. Winner of the 1953 Nobel Prize for Literature. 50 28 Jan 1965 Death of Maxime Weygand, French Army officer in WWI (chief of staff) and WWII (commander-in-chief of the Allied armies in France). 40 1 Jan 1975 International Women’s Year. (to 31 Dec) 40 4 Jan 1975 Death of Carlo Levi, Italian writer, artist and political journalist/activist. Best known for his novel Christ Stopped at Eboli. 40 6 Jan 1975 AM America was first broadcast on ABC television in the USA. It was not a success and was replaced by Good Morning America in November. 40 6 Jan 1975 The game show Wheel Of Fortune was first broadcast on NBC television in the USA. 40 8 Jan 1975 Ella T. Grasso became Governor of Connecticut. She was the first female governor in the USA to be elected in her own right (i.e. she did not succeed her husband). 40 8 Jan 1975 Death of Richard Tucker, American operatic tenor. 40 9 Jan 1975 Death of Pierre Fresnay, French stage and film actor. 40 11 Jan 1975 The Soviet Union launched Soyuz 17 carrying the first two cosmonauts to visit the space station Salyut 4. (They returned to Earth on 10th Feb.) 40 14 Jan 1975 British murderer Donald Neilson (‘the Black Panther’) kidnapped teenage heiress Lesley Whittle from her home in Shropshire, demanding a ransom of £50,000. (The money was not delivered on time due to a series of errors by the police, and her body was found on 7th March. Neilson was arrested in December and imprisoned for life.) 40 19 Jan 1975 Death of Thomas Hart Benton, American artist. A key member of the Regionalist movement. 40 20 Jan 1975 The album Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan was released. 40 22 Jan 1975 NASA launched the Earth Resources Technology Satellite Landsat 2 to capture images of the Earth. 40 24 Jan 1975 Death of Larry Fine, American comedian and actor (The Three Stooges). 40 30 Jan 1975 The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was established as the first national marine sanctuary in the USA. It is the site of the wreck of the USS Monitor, which sank during the U.S. Civil War off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and became an artificial reef. 40 30 Jan 1975 The Faroe Islands issued its first postage stamps. (It had used Danish stamps since 1870.) 40 30 Jan 1975 Death of Boris Blacher, German composer.

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Ann. Date Event 30 1 Jan 1985 The first mobile phone call in the UK was made by comedian Ernie Wise. He called Vodafone’s head office in Newbury, Berkshire from St. Katherine Docks in London. 30 1 Jan 1985 The television channel VH1 launched in the USA. (VH1 stands for Video Hits One and is aimed at a more mature audience than MTV.) 30 4 Jan 1985 British surrogate mother Kim Cotton gave birth to a baby girl and was investigated by Scotland Yard over reports that she would receive £6,500 from a childless couple when she handed it over to them. (Surrogacy is legal in the UK but payment is not.) 30 5 Jan 1985 Death of Robert L. Surtees, Academy Award-winning American cinematographer (King Solomon’s Mines, The Bad and the Beautiful, Ben-Hur, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Graduate, The Sting, and more). 30 7 Jan 1985 Japan launched its first interplanetary spacecraft, Sakigake, on an experimental mission to Halley’s Comet. It was first deep space probe launched by a country other than the USA or USSR. 30 10 Jan 1985 Daniel Ortega was inaugurated as President of Nicaragua. (He remained President until 1990 and became President again in 2007.) 30 10 Jan 1985 The Sinclair C5 electric tricycle was launched in the UK. Immediate concerns were raised about its safety in traffic, and it was ridiculed in the media. It was not a commercial success. 30 11 Jan 1985 Death of Sir William McKell, Governor-General of Australia (1947–53). 30 13 Jan 1985 A passenger train derailed in Ethiopia, with four of its five carriages (or 14th?) plunging into a ravine. Approximately 428 people were killed, making it the worst-ever railway disaster in Africa. (In February 2002 a train caught fire in Egypt. The official death toll was 383 but media reports estimated it to be over 1,000 – if this is correct then it would be the worst-ever in Africa.) 30 15 Jan 1985 Tancredo Neves was elected President of Brazil. (He did not take office: he became severely ill on the eve of his inauguration and died in April. Vice-President José Sarney took office as President in his place.) 30 16 Jan 1985 Death of Robert Fitzgerald, American poet, critic, translator and teacher. Known for his translations of the Greek classics. 30 17 Jan 1985 British Telecom officially retired the iconic red telephone box. 30 18 Jan 1985 Death of Wilfrid Brambell, Irish film and television actor. Best known for his roles in the British TV series Steptoe and Son and The Beatles’ movie A Hard Day’s Night. 30 21 Jan 1985 Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President of the United States for a second term. (Ceremony delayed by a day due to bad weather. As the weather was still bad, it was held indoors and the parade was cancelled.) 30 21 Jan 1985 Death of James Beard, influential American chef and food writer. The first chef to demonstrate cooking on U.S. network television. 30 22 Jan 1985 Death of Sir Arthur Bryant, British historian. Particularly noted for his three-volume biography of Samuel Pepys. 30 23 Jan 1985 A debate from Britain’s House of Lords was televised for the first time. (An experimental broadcast, but it became permanent soon afterwards.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 16 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 30 25 Jan 1985 South African President P.W. Botha opened the country’s new three- chamber parliament. It had separate chambers for Whites, Asians/Indians and Coloureds/Mixed Race (but not blacks). 30 26 Jan 1985 Death of James Cameron, prominent British journalist and writer. A founding member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). The annual James Cameron Memorial Lecture is given in his honour. 30 28 Jan 1985 The supergroup USA for Africa recorded the hit single We Are the World to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. (The song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and released on 7th March. It raised over $63 million.) 30 29 Jan 1985 Oxford University refused to award British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher an honorary doctorate after she cut funding for higher education. 30 31 Jan 1985 South African President P. W. Botha offered to free Nelson Mandela from prison if he unconditionally rejected violence as a political weapon. (Mandela refused and remained in prison until 1990.) 25 1 Jan 1990 David Dinkins became the first African American mayor of New York City. 25 2 Jan 1990 Death of Vladimir Ussachevsky, Manchurian-born American composer. (or 4th?) Known for his experimental work in electronic music. 25 3 Jan 1990 The deposed dictator of Panama, Manuel Noriega, surrendered to U.S. authorities after spending 10 days hiding in the Vatican Embassy. He was taken to the USA, convicted of drug trafficking, racketeering and money laundering in a 1992 trial, and sentenced to 40 years in prison (later reduced to 30 years). 25 4 Jan 1990 Death of Alberto Lleras Camargo, President of Colombia (1958–62). 25 4 Jan 1990 Death of Harold E(ugene) Edgerton, American electrical engineer, photographer and educator. Noted for developing high-speed photographic techniques to capture beautiful and scientifically useful images, such as splashes of liquid or bullets hitting objects. 25 5 Jan 1990 Death of Arthur Kennedy, award-winning American stage and film actor (High Sierra, The Man from Laramie, Elmer Gantry, and several Arthur Miller plays on Broadway). 25 6 Jan 1990 Death of Ian Charleson, Scottish stage and film actor (Gandhi, Chariots of Fire). The first British celebrity whose death was publicly attributed to AIDS. 25 6 Jan 1990 Death of Pavel Cherenkov, Russian physicist. Joint winner of the 1958 Nobel Prize for Physics for discovering Cherenkov radiation. 25 7 Jan 1990 The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy was closed to the public due to safety concerns. (It reopened in Dec 2001 after stabilisation work was completed.) 25 7 Jan 1990 Death of Bronko Nagurski, American football player and professional wrestler. 25 8 Jan 1990 Death of Terry-Thomas, British comedy film actor. Noted for playing disreputable members of the upper classes. 25 10 Jan 1990 Time Inc. and Warner Communications completed their merger to become Time Warner. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 17 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 10 Jan 1990 China lifted martial law, which had been imposed to suppress political unrest during the Tiananmen Square protests of May–June 1989. 25 10 Jan 1990 The National Collegiate Athletic Association in the USA began random year-round drug testing. 25 12 Jan 1990 Romania banned the Communist Party – the first Warsaw Pact country to do so. (The ban was revoked a week later, but neither the Communist Party nor any of its successors have since won any parliamentary seats.) 25 12 Jan 1990 Death of Laurence J. Peter, Canadian educator. Known for his bestselling book The Peter Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong which hypothesises that every employee in a hierarchical organisation tends to rise to his level of incompetence. 25 13 Jan 1990 Douglas Wilder became Governor of Virginia – the first African American governor of a U.S. state since the Reconstruction Era over 100 years earlier. 25 15 Jan 1990 Death of Gordon Jackson, Scottish radio, film, television and stage actor. Best known for his TV roles as Hudson the butler in Upstairs, Downstairs and George Cowley in The Professionals. 25 15 Jan 1990 Death of Dame Peggy van Praagh, British ballet dancer and choreographer. Artistic director of the Australian Ballet (1963–74). 25 17 Jan 1990 Death of Ruskin Spear, British artist. 25 18 Jan 1990 The mayor of Washington, D.C., USA, Marion Barry, was arrested for drug offences by the FBI. (He served 6 months in prison but became mayor again in 1995.) 25 18 Jan 1990 Death of Melanie Appleby, British pop singer (Mel & Kim). 25 19 Jan 1990 Police in Johannesburg, South Africa used batons and dogs to break up an anti-apartheid demonstration against the ‘rebel’ English cricket team, who defied an international ban on playing in the segregated country. 25 19 Jan 1990 Death of Bhagwam Shree Rajneesh, Indian guru. 25 20 Jan 1990 Death of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, Prime Minister of Japan (1945). 25 20 Jan 1990 Death of Barbara Stanwyck, award-winning American stage, film and television actress. 25 23 Jan 1990 Death of Mariano Rumor, Prime Minister of Italy (1968–70, 1973–74). 25 25 Jan 1990 Death of Ava Gardner, American film actress. 25 26 Jan 1990 Death of Lewis Mumford, American historian, architectural critic, sociologist, urban planner and writer. 25 28 Jan 1990 The Polish political party Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland was founded as a successor to the (Communist) Polish United Workers’ Party. 25 28 Jan 1990 The Independent on Sunday newspaper was first published in the UK. 25 31 Jan 1990 The first McDonald’s fast food restaurant in the Soviet Union opened in Moscow. 20 1 Jan 1995 The International Year of Tolerance. (to 31 Dec) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 18 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 1 Jan 1995 The World Trade Organization began operating. 20 1 Jan 1995 Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the European Union. 20 1 Jan 1995 Fernando Henrique Cardoso became President of Brazil. 20 1 Jan 1995 The last The Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson was published. (Larson then retired. The Far Side was first published in 1980.) 20 1 Jan 1995 Death of Fred West, British serial killer (found hanged in his prison cell). 20 1 Jan 1995 Death of Eugene Wigner, Hungarian-born American physicist. Joint winner of the 1963 Nobel Prize for Physics for his contributions to nuclear physics, including formulating the law of conservation of parity. 20 2 Jan 1995 Death of Siad Barre, President of Somalia (1969–91). 20 3 Jan 1995 The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the cumulative total of reported AIDS cases had passed the one million mark, with cases reported in 192 countries. (Including unreported cases, the total was estimated to be approximately 4.5 million.) 20 4 Jan 1995 Newt Gingrich became Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. 20 4 Jan 1995 Death of Eduardo Mata, Mexican conductor. Music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (1977–93). 20 4 Jan 1995 Death of Sol Tax, American cultural anthropologist. Best known for his study of the culture of the Fox and Sauk Indians (The Fox Project) and for founding the journal Current Anthropology. 20 6 Jan 1995 Death of Joe Slovo, Lithuanian-born South African lawyer and political activist. General secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP). Fought against apartheid for over 40 years. 20 7 Jan 1995 Death of Harry Golombek, British chess grandmaster. Chess correspondent for The Observer and The Times newspapers. 20 7 Jan 1995 Death of Larry Grayson, British comedian and TV host. Known for his camp humour and catchphrases (‘Shut that door!’, ‘What a gay day!’) and for hosting The Generation Game. 20 8 Jan 1995 Death of Carlos Monzón, Argentine world middleweight boxing champion. 20 9 Jan 1995 Russian cosmonaut Valeri Poliakov became the first person to spend an entire year (366 days) in space in a single mission. (His mission to the Mir space station lasted for 437 days.) 20 9 Jan 1995 The Late Late Show was first broadcast on CBS television in the USA, hosted by Tom Snyder. 20 9 Jan 1995 Death of Peter Cook, influential British satirist, actor, writer and comedian. Known for his anti-establishment comedy and long comedy partnership with Dudley Moore. 20 9 Jan 1995 Death of Souphanouvong, President of Laos (1975–91). 20 10 Jan 1995 Death of Kathleen Tynan, British biographer, novelist and critic. Best known for The Life of Kenneth Tynan. 20 11 Jan 1995 The WB Television Network was launched in the USA. (It shut down in Sept 2006 and was replaced by The CW.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 19 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 11 Jan 1995 Death of Josef Gingold, Russian-born American violinist and teacher. 20 12 Jan 1995 Death of George Price, American magazine cartoonist whose worked appeared in The New Yorker, Collier’s and The Saturday Evening Post. 20 15 Jan 1995 Death of Vera Maxwell, American sportswear and fashion designer. 20 16 Jan 1995 The first episode of the science fiction series Star Trek: Voyager was broadcast on the UPN television network in the USA. 20 17 Jan 1995 The Kobe earthquake (also known as the Great Hanshin earthquake), Japan, caused massive damage (over £64 billion/$102 billion) to the region’s infrastructure and industry. More than 6,400 people were killed. 20 18 Jan 1995 Death of Adolf Butenandt, German biochemist. Joint winner of the 1939 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his work on sex hormones. (Nobel Prize accepted in 1949 as he was initially forced to refuse it by the Nazis.) 20 20 Jan 1995 Jean-Claude Juncker became Prime Minister of Luxembourg. 20 20 Jan 1995 Death of Mehdi Bazargan, Prime Minister of Iran (1979). 20 20 Jan 1995 Death of John Halas, Hungarian-born British animator who, with his wife, (or 21st?) established the largest cartoon film studio in Britain and produced over 2,000 films. Best known for Animal Farm – the first full-length animated film produced in Britain. 20 22 Jan 1995 The British Army ended daytime patrols of Belfast, Northern Ireland. 20 22 Jan 1995 Death of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, American philanthropist and media personality. Mother of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. 20 24 Jan 1995 Opening statements began in the O. J. Simpson murder trial in Los Angeles, California, USA. (Simpson was acquitted in October.) 20 25 Jan 1995 Jacques Santer of Luxembourg became Chairman of the European Commission. 20 25 Jan 1995 French football player Eric Cantona, playing for Manchester United at Crystal Palace, launched a kung fu-style attack on a fan who shouted abuse at him. (He was banned from playing football for 8 months and fined £30,000.) 20 28 Jan 1995 Death of James P. Grant, American executive director of UNICEF (1980–95). 20 28 Jan 1995 Death of George Woodcock, Canadian poet, political biographer, travel writer, historian, critic and educator. Known for his book Anarchism: A History of Libertarian Ideas and Movements and for founding the academic journal Canadian Literature. 20 29 Jan 1995 Death of Dickie Burnell, British rower. Gold medallist at the 1948 Olympics. (His father, Charles Burnell, won a gold medal for rowing at the 1908 Olympics. They are the only father and son to both win Olympic gold medals in rowing.) 20 30 Jan 1995 The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in the USA announced the first drug for the treatment of sickle-cell anaemia. (The drug, hydroxyurea, had previously been used in chemotherapy.) 20 30 Jan 1995 Death of Gerald Durrell, Indian-born British naturalist, conservationist, zoo keeper, author and TV presenter. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 20 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 31 Jan 1995 Death of George Abbott, American theatre director, producer, playwright, actor and film director. He staged some of the most popular Broadway productions from the 1920s to the 1960s. 15 3 Jan 2000 American cartoonist Charles M. Schulz’s final Peanuts comic strip was published. (Schultz died in February.) 15 4 Jan 2000 The first British women to walk across Antarctica to the South Pole arrived safely. The group also included the first married couple to achieve the feat. 15 10 Jan 2000 America Online (AOL) agreed to buy Time Warner for $164 billion. (Merger completed 11th January 2001.) 15 12 Jan 2000 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that if a person flees at the mere sight of a police officer then the police have reasonable justification to stop, question and search that person. (Illinois vs. Wardlow.) 15 13 Jan 2000 Bill Gates announced that he was stepping down as chief executive of Microsoft. (Company president Steve Ballmer took over, while Gates remained as chairman and chief software architect.) 15 17 Jan 2000 British pharmaceutical companies Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham agreed to a merger that would create the world’s largest pharmaceutical company: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). (Merger completed 27th Dec 2000.) 15 19 Jan 2000 Death of Hedy Lamarr, Austrian-born American film actress and co-inventor of spread spectrum radio communication. 15 21 Jan 2000 The President of Ecuador, Jamil Mahuad, was forced to resign after a week of protests by indigenous groups and a military revolt. He was succeeded by Vice-President Gustavo Noboa. 15 31 Jan 2000 British family doctor Harold Shipman was jailed for life for murdering 15 of his patients. He is thought to have killed at least 215 patients and possibly as many as 260, making him Britain’s worst-ever serial killer. 10 1 Jan 2005 The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act came into effect in the UK, allowing the public to access documents about the workings of local and national government and other public bodies. 10 1 Jan 2005 Death of Shirley Chisholm, American politician. The first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress. 10 2 Jan 2005 Death of Cyril Fletcher, British comedian. Known for his ‘Odd Odes’. 10 2 Jan 2005 Death of Frank Kelly Freas, Hugo Award-winning American science fiction and fantasy illustrator, and cover artist for Mad magazine. 10 2 Jan 2005 Death of Maclyn McCarty, American geneticist who helped discover the role of DNA. 10 3 Jan 2005 The first World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace took place in (to 6th) Brussels, Belgium. (The next one is in Bangalore, India in 2015.) 10 3 Jan 2005 Death of J. N. Dixit, Indian diplomat and Foreign Secretary. Known for his role as a negotiator during disputes with China and Pakistan. 10 3 Jan 2005 Death of Will Eisner, American comic book artist. Created the comic strip The Spirit. Popularised the term ‘graphic novel’. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 21 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 4 Jan 2005 Death of Humphrey Carpenter, British biographer, writer, children’s author and radio broadcaster. 10 4 Jan 2005 Death of Guy Davenport, American short story writer, essayist, translator and educator. 10 4 Jan 2005 Death of Robert Heilbroner, American economist and writer. Best known for The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times and Ideas of the Great Economic Thinkers. 10 5 Jan 2005 The dwarf planet Eris was discovered. It is the largest of the dwarf planets (27% more massive than Pluto). 10 5 Jan 2005 Death of Danny Sugerman, American rock band manager and writer (The Doors, Ray Manzarek, Iggy Pop). 10 6 Jan 2005 Death of Louis Robichaud, Canadian politician. The first Acadian Premier of New Brunswick (1960–70). 10 9 Jan 2005 The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (also known as the Naivasha Agreement) was signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. It marked the end of the Second Sudanese Civil War and led to South Sudan becoming an independent state. 10 10 Jan 2005 Death of James Forman, American civil rights leader and writer. 10 11 Jan 2005 Death of Spencer Dryden, American drummer (Jefferson Airplane). 10 12 Jan 2005 NASA launched the space probe Deep Impact to study the interior composition of comet 9P/Tempel. Its impactor collided with the comet on 4th July and the probe returned photographs of the resulting crater. 10 12 Jan 2005 Death of Amrish Puri, Indian stage and film actor. Best known for his many villainous roles and for playing Mola Ram in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. 10 12 Jan 2005 Death of Edmund S. Valtman, Pulitzer Prize-winning Estonian-born American editorial cartoonist. 10 13 Jan 2005 Death of Nell Rankin, American operatic mezzo-soprano. 10 14 Jan 2005 The European Space Agency’s Huygens probe landed on Saturn’s moon Titan and sent back the first detailed pictures of the surface, along with measurements of the environmental conditions there. 10 14 Jan 2005 Death of Conroy Maddox, British surrealist artist. 10 14 Jan 2005 Death of Jesús-Rafael Soto, Venezuelan-born French optical and kinetic artist and sculptor. 10 15 Jan 2005 Mahmoud Abbas became President of the Palestinian National Authority. 10 15 Jan 2005 Death of Victoria de los Ángeles, Spanish operatic soprano. 10 15 Jan 2005 Death of Elizabeth Janeway, American novelist, critic and social historian. 10 15 Jan 2005 Death of Dan Lee, Canadian animator. Best known for creating the title character from the film Finding Nemo. He also worked on A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., and Ratatouille. 10 15 Jan 2005 Death of Ruth Warrick, American film and TV actress. Best known for playing Phoebe Tyler/Wallingford in the soap opera All My Children.

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Ann. Date Event 10 16 Jan 2005 Adriana Iliescu of Romania became the oldest woman to give birth, at the age of 66. (The record was broken by a Spanish woman in Dec 2006 and there are claims that an Indian woman aged 70 gave birth in 2008, though her age could not be verified.) 10 17 Jan 2005 Death of Charlie Bell, Australian businessman. President and CEO of the McDonald’s fast food chain. 10 17 Jan 2005 Death of Virginia Mayo, American stage, film and television actress. 10 17 Jan 2005 Death of Albert Schatz, American microbiologist and educator who co-discovered the antibiotic streptomycin. 10 17 Jan 2005 Death of Zhao Ziyang, Premier of China (1980–87), General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (1987–89). 10 20 Jan 2005 George W. Bush was inaugurated as President of the United States for a second term. 10 20 Jan 2005 Ireland became fully metric. 10 20 Jan 2005 Death of Per Borten, Prime Minister of Norway (1965–71). 10 22 Jan 2005 Death of Carlo Orelli, the last surviving Italian World War I veteran. 10 22 Jan 2005 Death of Rose Mary Woods, U.S. President Richard Nixon’s personal secretary. She gained public attention/notoriety during the Watergate scandal when it was revealed that she had erased 18½ minutes of tape from the White House recordings. 10 23 Jan 2005 Viktor Yushchenko became President of Ukraine. 10 23 Jan 2005 Death of Johnny Carson, award-winning American comedian and television host (The Tonight Show). 10 24 Jan 2005 Death of June Bronhill, acclaimed Australian operatic soprano. (or 25th?) 10 25 Jan 2005 Death of Philip Johnson, influential American architect and critic. 10 25 Jan 2005 Death of Manuel Lopes, Cape Verdean poet, writer and essayist. One of the key founders of modern Cape Verdean literature. 10 25 Jan 2005 Death of Ray Peterson, American singer. Best known for the songs Tell Laura I Love Her and Corrine, Corrina. 10 26 Jan 2005 Condoleezza Rice became U.S. Secretary of State – the first African American woman to hold the post. 10 28 Jan 2005 Death of Jim Capaldi, award-winning British rock singer, musician and songwriter. Best known as a founding member of Traffic. 10 29 Jan 2005 Direct commercial flights between mainland China and Taiwan resumed for the first time since 1949. 10 29 Jan 2005 Death of Ephraim Kishon, award-winning Hungarian-born Israeli satirist, writer, playwright, screenwriter and film director. 10 30 Jan 2005 A general election was held in Iraq to elect a National Assembly. This was the first general election since the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, and the first free election for 50 years. (Over 100 polling stations were attacked, 44 killed.) 10 31 Jan 2005 SBC Communications announced it was purchasing AT&T for $16 billion. (Completed Nov 2005. The merged company kept the name AT&T). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 23 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 750 8 Feb 1265 Death of Hulagu (also spelled Hülegü) Khan, Mongol ruler in Iran. He destroyed a significant amount of medieval Iranian culture. 500 6 Feb 1515 Death of Aldus Manutius (the Elder), Italian printer, publisher and typographer. Founded the Aldine Press. Produced the first printed versions of many Greek and Latin classics. 500 14 Feb 1515 Birth of Frederick III, (Frederick the Pious), elector Palatine of the Rhine. 400 4 Feb 1615 Death of Giambattista della Porta, Italian natural philosopher, physicist, scholar, polymath and playwright. Best known for his multi-volume work Natural Magic. 300 17 Feb 1715 Death of Antoine Galland, French Orientalist, archaeologist and (or 19th?) translator. Best known for producing the first European translation of the Middle Eastern tales The Thousand and One Nights (also known as The Arabian Nights).

300 21 Feb 1715 Death of Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, English statesman, Proprietary Governor of the American colony of Maryland. 300 25 Feb 1715 Death of Pu Songling, Chinese short story writer. Best known for Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio. 200 3 Feb 1815 The world’s first commercial cheese factory began operating in Switzerland. 200 13 Feb 1815 The Cambridge Union Society (a student debating society) was founded at Cambridge University in England. 200 18 Feb 1815 Birth of Constantin (also spelled Konstantin) von Tischendorf, German Biblical scholar who deciphered the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus and rediscovered the Codex Sinaiticus. 200 21 Feb 1815 Birth of Ernest Meissonier, French artist, illustrator and sculptor. Known for his military and historical themes, particularly Napoleonic battles. 200 24 Feb 1815 Death of Robert Fulton, American engineer and inventor who developed the first commercially successful steamboat. 200 26 Feb 1815 The former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile on the island of Elba. (On 20th March he returned to power as ruler of France.) 200 26 Feb 1815 The Second Barbary War (Tripoli, Tunis and Algeria); U.S. Victory. (to 30 Jun) 175 1 Feb 1840 Baltimore College of Dental Surgery was founded in Maryland, USA. It was the world’s first dental college. (Opened 6th March.) 175 5 Feb 1840 Birth of John Boyd Dunlop, Scottish inventor. Developed the pneumatic rubber tyre. Co-founded the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company. 175 6 Feb 1840 The Treaty of Waitangi was signed, granting Britain sovereignty over New Zealand and giving the Maori people the rights of British citizens. 175 10 Feb 1840 Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. 175 11 Feb 1840 The first performance of Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera La Fille du Régiment, in Paris, France. 175 12 Feb 1840 The Housatonic Railroad opened in Connecticut, USA. (It has expanded considerably since then and now spans several states.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 24 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 175 16 Feb 1840 The United States Exploring Expedition, led by Captain Charles Wilkes, (or 21st?) discovered what is now known as Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica. 150 1 Feb 1865 John Rock became the first African American attorney to be admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. 150 3 Feb 1865 American Civil War: the Hampton Roads Peace Conference. (Unsuccessful – the war continued.) 150 5 Feb 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Hatcher’s Run (Virginia); Union (to 7th) victory. 150 8 Feb 1865 American Civil War: Martin Delany became the first African American field officer in the U.S. Army. 150 9 Feb 1865 Birth of Mrs. Patrick Campbell, British stage and film actress. 150 9 Feb 1865 Birth of Erich Dagobert von Drygalski, German geographer, geophysicist and glaciologist. 150 11 Feb 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Wilmington (North Carolina); (to 22nd) Union victory. 150 12 Feb 1865 Reverend Henry Highland Garnet became the first African American minister to speak in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he gave a speech on slavery. 150 12 Feb 1865 Birth of Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer, Polish poet and writer. A member of the Young Poland movement. 150 15 Feb 1865 Death of Nicholas Wiseman, British cardinal; the first Archbishop of Westminster. He helped to revive Catholicism in England. 150 17 Feb 1865 American Civil War: Union General William Sherman’s army attacked and burned South Carolina’s capital, Columbia, destroying everything of military value. Two-thirds of the city was ruined. (The remaining public buildings were destroyed on 20th when the army left the city.) 150 17 Feb 1865 American Civil War: the Confederates abandoned Fort Sumter in Columbia Harbor, South Carolina after holding it for 18 months. The Union formally took possession of it on 22nd. (Fort Sumter was the site of the first shots of the war, in April 1861) 150 18 Feb 1865 Delaware rejected the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (the abolition of slavery). (It finally ratified it in February 1901.) 150 19 Feb 1865 Birth of Sven Anders Hedin, Swedish explorer of Central Asia. His expeditions produced many important archaeological and geographical findings, including the first detailed map of Tibet. 150 20 Feb 1865 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) held its first classes, in the Mercantile Building, Boston. 150 21 Feb 1865 Birth of John Haden Badley, British educator and writer. Founder of Bedales School, the first coeducational public boarding school in England, renowned for its liberal ethos. 150 25 Feb 1865 Death of Otto Ludwig, German novelist, playwright and critic. One of Germany’s first modern realists. 150 28 Feb 1865 Birth of Sir Wilfred Grenfell, British medical missionary and benefactor to Newfoundland and Labrador. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 25 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 28 Feb 1865 Birth of Arthur Symons, Welsh poet and critic. He co-founded and edited The Savoy magazine and championed the French Symbolist poets. 125 10 Feb 1890 Millions of acres of former Sioux Indian lands in North and South Dakota were opened up for settlement after being ceded to the USA. Settlers could purchase parcels of land for $1.25 per acre. 125 10 Feb 1890 Birth of Boris Pasternak, Russian poet, novelist and translator. Best known for his novel Doctor Zhivago. He was awarded the 1958 Nobel Prize for Literature, but declined it. 100 1 Feb 1915 Birth of Sir Stanley Matthews, British football player. One of the greatest British players of all time; particularly noted for his dribbling skills. The first British player to be knighted. 100 2 Feb 1915 Birth of Abba Eban, South African-born Israeli politician and diplomat. Israeli foreign minister (1966–74). 100 4 Feb 1915 World War I: Germany announced that it would impose a naval blockade around Britain from 18th February, and British waters would become a war zone. (The blockade was lifted in Sept after pressure from the USA. But it was re-imposed in Feb 1917, leading the USA to enter the war.) 100 4 Feb 1915 Birth of Ray Evans, Academy Award-winning American lyricist. Wrote songs for over 80 films in collaboration with composer Jay Livingston. (Their songs include Buttons and Bows, Que Sera, Sera, and many more.) 100 4 Feb 1915 Birth of Sir Norman Wisdom, British stage, film and television actor and comedian. Best known for his physical knockabout comedy and hapless on-screen character Norman Pitkin which made him a celebrity in unlikely parts of the world. He later played more serious roles to great acclaim. 100 5 Feb 1915 Birth of Robert Hofstadter, American physicist. Joint winner of the 1961 Nobel Prize for Physics for his studies on electron scattering and for discovering the structure of protons and neutrons. 100 7 Feb 1915 World War I – the Second Battle of Masurian Lakes, East Prussia (now in (to 22nd) Poland); German victory. The entire Russian 20th Army Corps surrendered. 100 7 Feb 1915 The first wireless telegraph message was sent from a moving train to a railway station. 100 7 Feb 1915 Birth of Teoctist (Arapasu), Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (1986–2007). 100 7 Feb 1915 Birth of Eddie Bracken, American radio, stage, film and television actor and comedian. Best known for the films The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek and Hail the Conquering Hero. 100 8 Feb 1915 The première of D. W. Griffith’s classic silent film The Birth of a Nation, in Los Angeles, California, USA. The controversial U.S. Civil War film was based on Thomas Dixon’s novel and play The Clansman. (Released 3rd Mar.) 100 8 Feb 1915 Birth of Georges Guétary, Egyptian-born French singer, cabaret performer and film actor. Best known for his role in the musical An American in Paris. 100 9 Feb 1915 Birth of Lennard Pearce, British stage and television actor. Best known for his role as Granddad in the TV comedy series Only Fools and Horses. 100 11 Feb 1915 Birth of Sir Patrick (‘Paddy’) Leigh Fermor, award-winning British travel writer and soldier. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 26 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 12 Feb 1915 Birth of Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, U.S. Army general. Supreme commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe (1969–74). 100 12 Feb 1915 Birth of Lorne Greene, Canadian television actor. Best known for playing Ben Cartwright in Bonanza and Commander Adama in Battlestar Galactica. 100 12 Feb 1915 Death of Émil(e) Waldteufel, French pianist, conductor and composer of waltzes. 100 13 Feb 1915 Birth of Aung San, Burmese nationalist leader. Considered the father of modern Burma (now Myanmar). Father of the politician Aung San Suu Kyi. (Assassinated July 1947.) 100 14 Feb 1915 Birth of Irving Gordon, Grammy Award-winning American songwriter. Best known for the song Unforgettable (performed by Nat King Cole/Natalie Cole). 100 16 Feb 1915 Birth of Michael Relph, British art director, stage designer and film producer (Kind Hearts and Coronets, The League of Gentlemen, and more).

100 18 Feb 1915 World War I: Germany’s naval blockade of Britain began. (See 4th Feb.) 100 18 Feb 1915 Birth of Phyllis Calvert, British stage, film and television actress. Particularly known for her 1940s British stage melodramas and for the films The Man in Grey and Fanny by Gaslight. 100 19 Feb 1915 World War I – the Dardanelles Campaign; Ottoman victory. The Royal (to 25 Apr) Navy’s attempts to pass through the Dardanelles in order to disrupt Ottoman shipping were thwarted. The Allies decided to launch a land assault instead (see 25th April 1915), but this also failed. 100 19 Feb 1915 Death of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Indian social reformer. One of the first leaders of the Indian Independence Movement. 100 20 Feb 1915 The Panama–Pacific International Exposition was held in San Francisco, (to 4 Dec) California, USA. It celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal and showcased San Francisco’s recovery from the 1906 earthquake. 100 21 Feb 1915 Birth of Godfrey Brown, British athlete. 4 x 400m relay gold medallist and 400m silver medallist at the 1936 Olympics. He later became the headmaster of the Royal Grammar School in Worcester. 100 23 Feb 1915 Birth of Paul Tibbets, U.S. Air Force officer. Best known as the pilot of the B-29 Enola Gay which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. 100 23 Feb 1915 Death of Robert Smalls, African American slave who became a Union naval hero during the American Civil War and later served as a congressman for South Carolina.

100 26 Feb 1915 The first use of a flame-thrower in combat. The German 3rd Guard Pioneer Regiment used them against the French near Verdun during WWI. 100 28 Feb 1915 Birth of Sir Peter Medawar, Brazilian-born British zoologist and immunologist. Joint winner of the 1960 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his work on acquired immune tolerance, which paved the way for successful organ/tissue transplants. 100 28 Feb 1915 Birth of Zero Mostel, award-winning American stage and screen comedy actor (Fiddler on the Roof, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Producers). He was blacklisted during the 1950s after testifying before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 27 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 90 1 Feb 1925 Ahmet Zogu was inaugurated as the first President of Albania. (In Sept 1928 the Albanian monarchy was established and he became King Zog I.) 90 8 Feb 1925 Sheikh Said rebellion, Turkey; Turkish victory – rebellion suppressed. (to 31 Mar) 90 12 Feb 1925 Estonia agreed to grant its Jewish community cultural autonomy. 90 21 Feb 1925 The first issue of The New Yorker magazine was published. 90 24 Feb 1925 The first recorded use of a thermite bomb. It was used to break up a 250,000-ton ice jam on the St. Lawrence River in New York state, USA. 90 25 Feb 1925 Glacier Bay National Monument (now Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve) was established in Alaska, USA. 90 25 Feb 1925 Diplomatic relations were established between Japan and the USSR. 90 26 Feb 1925 Adolf Hitler re-established the Nazi Party in Munich, Germany after a ban (or 27th?) on its existence was lifted. 90 28 Feb 1925 Charlevoix–Kamouraska earthquake, Canada. There was considerable damage near the epicentre along the St. Lawrence River. 80 1 Feb 1935 The first The March of Time newsreel was shown in the USA. It was a companion to The March of Time radio series and was shown monthly in over 500 movie theatres until 1951. 80 3 Feb 1935 Death of Hugo Junkers, German aircraft designer. The first to use an all- metal skin (on the Junkers J-1). 80 6 Feb 1935 The board game Monopoly first went on sale in the USA. 80 8 Feb 1935 Turkish General Election – women were allowed to vote and stand for parliament for the first time, and 18 were elected. 80 8 Feb 1935 Death of Max Liebermann, German artist and printmaker. The leading proponent of Impressionism in Germany. 80 11 Feb 1935 The lowest temperature ever recorded in Africa: -24°C (-11°F) at Ifrane, Morocco. 80 11 Feb 1935 Birth of Gene Vincent, pioneering American rock and roll/rockabilly singer and guitarist. Best known for the song Be-Bop-A-Lula. (Died 1971.) 80 12 Feb 1935 The American airship USS Macon crashed and sank in a storm off the coast of California. 2 of the 76 crew were killed. 80 12 Feb 1935 Death of Auguste Escoffier, legendary French chef, restaurateur and writer. A leader in the development of modern French cuisine. Known as ‘the king of chefs and the chef of kings’. 80 13 Feb 1935 Bruno Hauptmann was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering American aviator Charles Lindbergh’s infant son. (He was sentenced to death and executed in April 1936.) 80 13 Feb 1935 American cardiac surgeon Claude Beck carried out the first surgical operation to successfully relieve angina in humans (cardiomyopexy), in Cleveland, Ohio. 80 13 Feb 1935 Death of Vernon Lee (pen name of Violet Paget), British short story writer, novelist and essayist. Best known for her works on aesthetics and for her supernatural fiction. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 28 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 15 Feb 1935 Birth of Roger Chaffee, American astronaut. (Killed in January 1967 during a pre-launch test for Apollo 1.) 80 16 Feb 1935 Birth of Sonny Bono, American singer, record producer and politician. Best known for his pop duo partnership with his then-wife Cher (Sonny and Cher). He later became a congressman for California. (Died 1998.) 80 20 Feb 1935 Caroline Mikkelsen of Denmark became the first woman to set foot on Antarctica. 80 21 Feb 1935 Birth of Mark McManus, Scottish television actor. Best known for his lead role in the long-running crime drama series Taggart. (Died 1994.) 80 22 Feb 1935 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt banned planes from flying over the White House (because the noise kept him awake). The ban remains in place today (mainly for security reasons). 80 26 Feb 1935 Nazi Germany reformed the Luftwaffe (military air force). It had been disbanded in 1920 under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles after WWI. 80 26 Feb 1935 British radio engineer Robert Watson-Watt demonstrated a working radar system for the first time, in Daventry, UK. 80 26 Feb 1935 American baseball star Babe Ruth signed for the Boston Braves after a 14- year career with the New York Yankees. (He retired on 2nd June.) 80 28 Feb 1935 Nylon was first produced by a team led by Wallace Carothers at DuPont’s research station in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. 80 28 Feb 1935 Death of Alexander Willem Frederik Idenburg, Governor-General of Suriname and the Dutch East Indies (1909–16). 75 1 Feb 1940 Death of Philip Francis Nowlan, American science fiction writer. Best known for creating the character Buck Rogers. 75 5 Feb 1940 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra recorded the hit song Tuxedo Junction. 75 6 Feb 1940 World War II: General Henri Winkelman became commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Netherlands, succeeding Izaak Reijnders (whose performance was considered disappointing by the Minister of Defence). 75 7 Feb 1940 The première of the Walt Disney film Pinocchio, in New York City, USA. (Released in USA: 23rd Feb, UK: 13th May) 75 10 Feb 1940 World War II: the Nazis banned Polish Jews from travelling on trains. 75 10 Feb 1940 The cartoon characters Tom and Jerry made their first appearance in the Hanna and Barbera cartoon Puss Gets the Boot. (Tom the cat was named Jasper, and Jerry the mouse was named Jinx.) 75 11 Feb 1940 Death of John Buchan, British statesman, novelist (Prester John, The Thirty- Nine Steps), biographer and Governor General of Canada (1935–40). 75 12 Feb 1940 Birth of Ralph Bates, British film and television actor. Best known for many of the later Hammer Horror films and for his leading role in the TV sitcom Dear John. (Died 1991.) 75 16 Feb 1940 World War II: the Altmark Incident. Royal Navy sailors boarded the German tanker Altmark and freed 299 British prisoners-of-war. As they were in Norwegian waters, this was a breach of Norwegian neutrality. (This incident convinced Hitler that the Allies would not respect Norway’s neutrality, and Germany invaded Norway on 9th April.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 29 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 75 17 Feb 1940 Birth of Gene Pitney, American singer and songwriter. Known for his (or 1941?) dramatic pop ballads. (Died 2006.) 75 19 Feb 1940 Birth of Saparmurat Niyazov, President of Turkmenistan (1990–2006). (Died 2006.) 75 24 Feb 1940 Birth of Pete Duel, American stage, film and television actor. Best known for his role as the outlaw Hannibal Heyes (alias Joshua Smith) in the TV series Alias Smith and Jones. (Died 1971 – suicide.) 75 25 Feb 1940 The first ice hockey game to be televised in the USA: the New York Rangers versus the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden. (Broadcast in the New York City area only.) 75 25 Feb 1940 Birth of Ron Santo, American baseball player and radio broadcaster who lost both his legs to diabetes. (Died 2010.) 75 26 Feb 1940 The U.S. War Department established the Air Defense Command. This was a precursor to the U.S. Army Air Force Aerospace Defense Command established in 1946 (and inactivated in 1980). 75 27 Feb 1940 Carbon-14 was discovered by Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben at the University of California Radiation Laboratory, Berkeley. (Its presence in organic materials forms the basis of radiocarbon dating.) 75 27 Feb 1940 Death of Peter Behrens, German modernist architect who pioneered the field of industrial design. 75 28 Feb 1940 The first basketball game to be televised in the USA: Fordham University versus the University of Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden. (Broadcast in New York City area only.) 75 29 Feb 1940 American physicist Ernest Lawrence was awarded the 1939 Nobel Prize for Physics at a ceremony held in Berkeley, California, USA. (He was unable to travel to Sweden due to WWII so his award was presented by the Swedish Consulate-General in San Francisco.)

75 29 Feb 1940 The 12th Academy Awards were held in Los Angeles, California, USA. Gone with the Wind won 10 awards including Best Picture. Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. The award for Best Visual Effects was presented for the first time. Bob Hope hosted the ceremony for the first of 19 times. 75 29 Feb 1940 Death of E(dward) F(rederic) Benson, British novelist, short story writer, non-fiction writer and biographer. Best known for his satirical novels and autobiographical studies of Edwardian and Georgian society.

70 3 Feb 1945 World War II: the U.S. 8th Air Force carried out a huge daytime bombing raid on the German capital, Berlin. Almost 1,000 B-17 bombers took part, causing massive destruction and a fire that burned for 4 days. 70 3 Feb 1945 World War II – the Battle of Manila, Philippines. The U.S./Philippines (to 3 May) successfully recaptured the capital city from Japan and ended Japan’s occupation of the Philippines, but the city was totally destroyed and over 100,000 civilians were killed. 70 3 Feb 1945 World War II: Ecuador announced that it had been at war with Japan since 7th Dec 1941.

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Ann. Date Event 70 4 Feb 1945 World War II – The Yalta Conference, Crimea. U.S. President Franklin D. (to 11th) Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin met to plan the final defeat of Nazi Germany. Stalin also agreed to enter the war in the Pacific within 3 months of the war in Europe ending. 70 4 Feb 1945 World War II – the Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations, (to 13 May) central Burma; Allied victory. 70 7 Feb 1945 World War II: Paraguay declared war on Germany and Japan. 70 8 Feb 1945 World War II – Operation Veritable. British and Canadian troops (to 11 Mar) successfully cleared German forces from the area between the Rhine and Maas rivers in the Rhineland, close to the German-Dutch border. 70 13 Feb 1945 World War II: the Bombing of Dresden, Germany. The Allies carried out 4 (to 15th) massive bombing raids, completely destroying the inner city and killing about 25,000 people. 70 13 Feb 1945 World War II: the Siege of Budapest (Hungary) ended. The Soviet Red Army captured the city and the German and Hungarian forces surrendered unconditionally.

70 14 Feb 1945 World War II: the Bombing of Prague (Czechoslovakia). The U.S. 8th Air Force carried out a bombing raid on the city after mistaking it for Dresden in Germany (see 13th above). 701 civilians were killed. 70 14 Feb 1945 The Quincy Agreement: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King (to 15th) Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia made a secret agreement whereby the U.S. would provide Saudi Arabia with military assistance and training in exchange for secure access to oil. 70 15 Feb 1945 World War II: Venezuela and Uruguay declared war on Germany and Japan. 70 16 Feb 1945 World War II – the Battle of Corregidor, Philippines; U.S. Victory. The (to 26th) island was recaptured from the Japanese who had held it since May 1942. 70 19 Feb 1945 World War II – the Battle of Iwo Jima, Japanese Volcano Islands; (to 26 Mar) U.S. victory. (The iconic photo of U.S. Marines raising the American flag on top of Mount Surabachi was taken on 23rd.) 70 23 Feb 1945 World War II: the British RAF almost completely destroyed the German town of Pforzheim. Over 17,000 people were killed. 70 23 Feb 1945 World War II – the Battle of Reichswald – Operation Grenade. (to 23rd) The U.S. 9th Army crossed the river Rur after a 2-week delay caused by flooding when the Germans destroyed dams upstream. 70 23 Feb 1945 World War II: U.S. forces and Filipino guerrillas liberated the Los Baños prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines, freeing 2,000+ Allied prisoners.

70 23 Feb 1945 World War II: Turkey declared war (as of 1st Mar) on Germany and Japan and joined the Allies. (No Turkish forces were involved in WWII combat.) 70 24 Feb 1945 World War II: Egypt declared war on Germany and Japan. 70 24 Feb 1945 World War II: Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service as an honorary Second Subaltern. She trained as a driver and mechanic. 70 24 Feb 1945 Death of Ahmed Mahir Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt. (Assassinated.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 31 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 70 26 Feb 1945 World War II: Syria declared war on Germany and Japan. 70 27 Feb 1945 World War II: Lebanon declared war on Germany and Japan. 65 2 Feb 1950 The first episode of the game show What’s My Line? was broadcast on CBS TV in the USA. 65 7 Feb 1950 Britain and the USA officially recognised Vietnam under Bao Dai’s regime. 65 8 Feb 1950 The first-ever payment by credit card: the founders of Diners Club (now Diners Club International) paid their restaurant bill at Major’s Cabin Grill in New York City, USA. 65 9 Feb 1950 U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy announced that he had a list of ‘known Communists’ who worked in the U.S. State Department, fuelling Cold War tensions. He went on to make further sensational claims of Communists, Soviet spies and sympathisers in the federal government, U.S. Army and elsewhere – none of which he could substantiate. (His actions, known as the Red Scare, were condemned by the U.S. Senate in 1954 and his career was ruined. He died in 1957.) 65 14 Feb 1950 China and the Soviet Union signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance. (When it expired in 1979, China launched an immediate attack on Vietnam – a Soviet ally.) 65 14 Feb 1950 Chinese Civil War – the Battle of Tianquan; Communist victory. (to 20th) 65 15 Feb 1950 The première of the Walt Disney film Cinderella, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. (Released USA: 4th March, UK: 26th July.) 65 23 Feb 1950 United Kingdom General Election. Prime Minister Clement Attlee (Labour Party) was re-elected, but Labour’s majority was reduced from 146 seats to just 5. (Another election was held in 1951 and won by the Conservatives.) 65 25 Feb 1950 The first episode of the variety show Your Show of Shows was broadcast on NBC TV in the USA. 60 1 Feb 1955 H. C. Hansen became Prime Minister of Denmark. 60 8 Feb 1955 Soviet Prime Minister Georgy Malenkov resigned after being accused by President Nikita Khrushchev of abusing his power and being responsible for the slow pace of reforms. He was succeeded by Nikolai Bulganin. 60 10 Feb 1955 The U.S. Navy evacuated 28,500 civilians, servicemen and guerillas from the Tachen (also spelled Dachen) Islands (Republic of China) ahead of an invasion by the People’s Liberation Army. (The islands became part of the People’s Republic of China and the population was resettled in Taiwan.) 60 10 Feb 1955 Birth of Chris Adams, British wrestler and national judo champion. (Died 2001.) 60 17 Feb 1955 The British Ministry of Defence announced that it was developing a hydrogen bomb. (The first one was successfully tested in May 1957.) 60 18 Feb 1955 Operation Teapot – the USA successfully detonated 14 nuclear weapons at (to 15 May) the Nevada Test Site, with the twin aims of improving nuclear weapons and establishing tactics for ground forces on a nuclear battlefield. 60 19 Feb 1955 The South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was established in Bangkok, Thailand, with the primary objective of preventing further Communist gains in the region. (Dissolved 1977.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 32 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 19 Feb 1955 The chemical element Mendelevium (Md – atomic number 101) was created for the first time by a team led by Glenn T. Seaborg at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California, USA. The discovery was formally announced in April. 60 22 Feb 1955 American tennis star Maureen (‘Little Mo’) Connolly was forced to retire at the age of 19 after being injured in a horse-riding accident. 60 23 Feb 1955 Edgar Faure became Prime Minister of France (for the second time). 60 23 Feb 1955 Death of Paul Claudel, French poet, playwright, essayist and diplomat. 60 24 Feb 1955 Turkey and Iraq formed the Baghdad Pact – a pact of mutual cooperation similar to NATO. (The UK, Pakistan and Iran joined later that year. It became the Central Treaty Organization [CENTO] in 1959 when Iraq withdrew. It was dissolved in 1979.) 60 24 Feb 1955 Britain’s Big Freeze. Deep snow and freezing temperatures caused havoc in (to March) 60 counties, with many parts cut off. The RAF dropped food and medical supplies to affected areas. Thousands of sheep died from exposure. 60 25 Feb 1955 The British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal went into service with the Royal Navy. (It was decommissioned in 1979.) 60 26 Feb 1955 British biophysicist Rosalind Franklin’s discovery of the complete structure of a virus (the tobacco mosaic virus) was published in Nature magazine. 50 1 Feb 1965 NHS prescription charges were scrapped in England. (They were reintroduced in June 1968.) 50 1 Feb 1965 The Van Brienenoord Bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands was opened. 50 1 Feb 1965 Peter Jennings became the youngest network news anchorman in the USA at the age of 26, hosting Peter Jennings With the News on ABC. 50 1 Feb 1965 Joe Orton’s play Loot was first performed, in Cambridge, England. 50 1 Feb 1965 Birth of Brandon Lee, American actor and martial artist. Son of martial arts film star Bruce Lee. (Died 1993.) 50 5 Feb 1965 The Beursschouwburg visual arts theatre and concert hall opened in Brussels, Belgium. 50 7 Feb 1965 Vietnam War – Operation Flaming Dart. The U.S. launched air strikes on (to 24th) targets in North Vietnam after the Viet Cong attacked several U.S. bases. This led to an escalation of the war (see 2nd Mar 1965). 50 8 Feb 1965 The hit Motown song Stop! In the Name of Love by the Supremes was released. 50 15 Feb 1965 Canada adopted its national flag, the red-and-white maple leaf design. 50 15 Feb 1965 Death of Nat King Cole, American jazz/swing/ballad singer and pianist. 50 16 Feb 1965 The chairman of the British Railways Board, Dr. Richard Beeching, issued his second report (The Development of the Major Railway Trunk Routes) on the restructuring of British railways to prepare it for the next 25 years. He concluded that only 3,000 miles of Britain’s 7,500 miles of track should be considered for future development. 50 16 Feb 1965 NASA launched the space probe Pegasus 1 to study micrometeoroid impacts in Low Earth orbit. (It remained in operation until Aug 1968 and re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere in Sept 1978.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 33 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 17 Feb 1965 NASA launched the space probe Ranger 8 on a mission to take close-up photos of the surface of the Moon, ahead of a manned Apollo mission. (After sending back over 7,000 photographs it was deliberately crashed into the Moon on 20th February.) 50 18 Feb 1965 The Gambia gained its independence from the UK. 50 20 Feb 1965 Suat Hayri Ürgüplü became Prime Minister of Turkey (for 8 months). 50 21 Feb 1965 Death of Malcolm X, controversial African American Muslim leader and human rights activist. (Assassinated.) 50 22 Feb 1965 Vietnam War: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson approved a request from General Westmoreland to send the first U.S. combat troops to Vietnam. (3,500 U.S. Marines arrived in Vietnam on 8th March, joining 23,000 military advisers already present. This marked the beginning of the USA’s main involvement in the war.) 50 22 Feb 1965 Death of Felix Frankfurter, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1939–62). 50 23 Feb 1965 Death of Stan Laurel, British-born American comic actor and writer (Laurel and Hardy). 50 27 Feb 1965 The Dutch cabinet collapsed after failing to reach an agreement on commercial television broadcasting. Prime Minister Victor Marijnen announced his resignation and was succeeded by Jo Cals on 14th April. 50 28 Feb 1965 Death of Adolf Schärf, President of Austria (1957–65). 40 4 Feb 1975 Haicheng earthquake, China. More than 1,300 people were killed. 40 11 Feb 1975 Margaret Thatcher became the first female leader of the Conservative Party in the UK.

40 13 Feb 1975 A fire broke out on the 11th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, USA. It spread to nearby floors via a utility shaft, but did not cause any structural damage. 40 14 Feb 1975 Death of Sir Julian Huxley, British evolutionary biologist, philosopher, writer and educator. First Director of UNESCO. A founding member of the World Wildlife Fund. 40 14 Feb 1975 Death of P. G. Wodehouse, British-born American comic novelist, short story writer, lyricist and playwright. Best known as the creator of Jeeves. 40 21 Feb 1975 Watergate Scandal: the former U.S. Attorney General, John N. Mitchell, and former White House aides H. R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman were each sentenced to 2½ to 8 years in prison for conspiracy and obstruction of justice. 40 23 Feb 1975 Daylight Saving Time began two months early in the USA in order to conserve energy during the oil crisis. 40 28 Feb 1975 Moorgate tube crash, London underground, UK. A train failed to stop at the end of the line and crashed into a wall, killing 43 people. (Cause unknown, but thought to lie with the driver rather than a mechanical failure. A new train protection system was introduced as a result.) 30 6 Feb 1985 Death of James Hadley Chase, British thriller novelist. 30 7 Feb 1985 Death of Matt Monro, popular British singer. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 34 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 30 8 Feb 1985 Death of Sir William Lyons, British motor vehicle manufacturer. Co-founder of Jaguar Cars Ltd. 30 11 Feb 1985 The Amman Agreement was signed by King Hussein of Jordan and Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization. They agreed to convene an international peace conference and to pursue a proposed confederation between the two states. 30 11 Feb 1985 Death of Ben Abruzzo, American businessman and hot-air balloonist who made the first transpacific balloon flight and the longest non-stop balloon flight. 30 11 Feb 1985 Death of Henry Hathaway, American film director. Best known for his Westerns. 30 12 Feb 1985 Death of Nicholas Colasanto, American film and television actor and director. Best known for his role as Coach in the TV sitcom Cheers. 30 16 Feb 1985 The Islamic militant group and political party Hezbollah was founded in Lebanon. 30 16 Feb 1985 British civil servant Clive Ponting, an assistant secretary in the Ministry of Defence, resigned over the Belgrano affair. He had leaked a document revealing that the Argentine warship was outside the Falklands exclusion zone and sailing away from the Royal Navy task force when it was attacked and sunk. (He was also charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act, but was acquitted on 11th Feb when a jury declared the leak to be in the public interest.) 30 19 Feb 1985 The first episode of the BBC TV soap opera EastEnders was broadcast in the UK. 30 19 Feb 1985 The Coca-Cola Company launched Cherry Coke (also known as Coca- Cola Cherry). 30 20 Feb 1985 The sale of contraceptives was legalised in Ireland. 30 20 Feb 1985 Death of Clarence Nash, American voice actor. Best known as the voice of Donald Duck. 30 25 Feb 1985 Edwin Meese became Attorney General of the United States. (He resigned in 1988 over his involvement in the Wedtech scandal.) 30 26 Feb 1985 Death of Tjalling Koopmans, Dutch-born American economist. Joint winner of the 1975 Nobel Prize for Economics for developing activity analysis. 30 27 Feb 1985 Death of Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., American politician and diplomat. Senator from Massachusetts and U.S. Ambassador. (Grandson of the politician and historian Henry Cabot Lodge.) 30 28 Feb 1985 The IRA carried out a mortar bomb attack on a police station in Newry, Northern Ireland. 9 Royal Ulster Constabulary officers were killed – the RUC’s highest loss of life on a single day during the Troubles. 30 28 Feb 1985 Death of David Byron, British rock singer (Uriah Heep). 25 2 Feb 1990 The President of South Africa, F. W. De Klerk, lifted a 30-year ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and other opposing political parties and anti-apartheid groups.

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Ann. Date Event 25 6 Feb 1990 Death of Jimmy Van Heusen, award-winning American songwriter, particularly for Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. 25 7 Feb 1990 The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union agreed give up its 70-year monopoly on political power. 25 8 Feb 1990 Death of Del Shannon, American rock and roll singer, songwriter and guitarist. Best known for his hit song Runaway. 25 11 Feb 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. (He became President of South Africa in 1994.) 25 11 Feb 1990 American boxer James ‘Buster’ Douglas became world heavyweight champion when he knocked out Mike Tyson in one of the greatest upsets in boxing history. 25 12 Feb 1990 Carmen Lawrence became Premier of Western Australia – the first female state premier in Australia. 25 14 Feb 1990 The U.S. space probe Voyager 1 took a composite photograph of the entire solar system from a distance of 3.7 billion miles (6 billion km) from Earth. The photo, made up of 60 individual frames, included the Sun and 6 planets and is known as the Family Portrait or the Portrait of the Planets. The Earth gained its nickname ‘the Pale Blue Dot’ from these shots. 25 16 Feb 1990 Death of Keith Haring, American graphic artist and social activist, known for his graffiti-style artwork. 25 19 Feb 1990 Death of Michael Powell, innovative British film director. Known for his long working partnership with screenwriter Emeric Pressburger (The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, A Matter of Life and Death, Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes). His career was destroyed by the controversial film Peeping Tom, which has since gained a cult following. 25 23 Feb 1990 Death of James M. Gavin, U.S. Army commander during WWII. (Nicknamed the ‘Jumping General’ because he took part in parachute drops with his combat troops.) 25 23 Feb 1990 Death of José Napoleón Duarte, President of El Salvador (1984–89). 25 24 Feb 1990 Death of Malcolm Forbes, American publisher of Forbes magazine, founded by his father. Known for his promotion of capitalism and for his opulent lifestyle. 25 24 Feb 1990 Death of Alessandro (Sandro) Pertini, President of Italy (1978–85). 25 24 Feb 1990 Death of Johnnie Ray, influential American singer, songwriter and pianist. Hugely popular in the 1950s. Known for his early rock and roll style and wild stage persona. 25 25 Feb 1990 Nicaraguan General Election. The ruling Sandinistas were voted out of office by the National Opposition Union – a 14-party anti-Sandinista alliance. (Violeta Chamorro became Nicaragua’s first female President on 25th April.) 25 26 Feb 1990 The Soviet Union agreed to withdraw all of its 73,500 troops from Czechoslovakia by July 1991. (The majority left by 31st May 1990.) (The Soviet Union had invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968 to crush the Prague Spring reforms.)

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Ann. Date Event 25 26 Feb 1990 Death of Maurine Stuart, Canadian-born Zen master and teacher. President and spiritual director of the Cambridge Buddhist Association in Massachusetts, USA. 25 27 Feb 1990 Death of Leslie (Les) Ames, British cricketer (Kent and the English national team). One of the greatest all-rounders of all time. 20 1 Feb 1995 Welsh rock musician Richey Edwards, guitarist and lyrist with the Manic Street Preachers, went missing from a hotel in London. (There have been no confirmed sightings of him since then, though his car was found abandoned near the Severn Bridge on 14th Feb. He was declared presumed dead in November 2008.) 20 1 Feb 1995 Death of Phillip Borsos, Australian-born Canadian film director. Known (or 2nd for his cinematography and poetic storytelling. (Career cut short by or 13th?) leukaemia.) 20 2 Feb 1995 The leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization held an emergency summit in Cairo, Egypt where they reaffirmed their commitment to the Middle East peace process. (This was seen as a last-ditch attempt to salvage the failing peace process.) 20 2 Feb 1995 Death of André Frossard, French journalist and writer. Best known for his Roman Catholic works. 20 2 Feb 1995 Death of David Kindersley, British typeface designer and stone letter- carver. His work can be seen on many British churches and public buildings, including the gates of the British Library in London. 20 2 Feb 1995 Death of Fred Perry, British tennis player, commentator and co-founder of Fred Perry sportswear. World number 1 for four years in the 1930s. Won Wimbledon three times in succession. 20 2 Feb 1995 Death of Donald Pleasence, British stage, screen and television actor (Halloween, You Only Live Twice, The Great Escape, and many others). One of Britain’s most enduring actors; his career spanned more than 50 years. 20 3 Feb 1995 American astronaut Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot a space shuttle. (In July 1999 she also became the first female commander of a space shuttle.) 20 4 Feb 1995 Death of Patricia Highsmith, American novelist and short story writer. Best known for her psychological thrillers, including Strangers on a Train (adapted into a Hitchcock movie) and The Talented Mr. Ripley. 20 5 Feb 1995 Death of Doug McClure, American film and television actor (The Virginian, At the Earth’s Core, The Land That Time Forgot, and more). 20 6 Feb 1995 Death of James Merrill, Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet. Known for his lyric and epic poems. Best known for Divine Comedies and The Changing Light at Sandover. 20 6 Feb 1995 Death of Art Taylor, American jazz drummer who played in many notable bands and helped define the sound of modern jazz drumming. 20 8 Feb 1995 Death of Wilhelm Josef (Willi) Soukop, Austrian-born British sculptor. A member of the Royal Academy and a teacher of the sculptor and printmaker Elisabeth Frink. 20 9 Feb 1995 Death of David Wayne, Tony Award-winning American stage, film and television actor. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 37 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 9 Feb 1995 Death of J. William Fulbright, American politician. Senator from Arkansas. Created the Fulbright scholarship – an international exchange programme for scholars. Opposed U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. 20 10 Feb 1995 Death of Paul Monette, American writer, poet and activist whose best known work explores homosexuality and the AIDS epidemic. 20 12 Feb 1995 Death of Rachid Mimouni, award-winning Algerian novelist, teacher and human rights activist. 20 12 Feb 1995 Death of Tony Secunda, British rock band manager (The Moody Blues, Procol Harum, The Move, T. Rex, Motörhead, Steeleye Span, Marianne Faithfull, The Pretenders). 20 13 Feb 1995 Death of Alberto Burri, Italian doctor, abstract artist and sculptor. Known for his adventurous use of materials such as rags, charred wood, polythene, resin, tar and scrap metal. 20 14 Feb 1995 Death of U Nu, Prime Minister of Burma/Myanmar (1948–56, 1957–58, 1960–62). 20 18 Feb 1995 Death of Yank Lawson, American jazz trumpeter. 20 18 Feb 1995 Death of Calder Willingham, American novelist and screenwriter. 20 20 Feb 1995 Death of Robert Bolt, Academy Award-winning British playwright and (or 21st?) screenwriter (A Man for All Seasons, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago). 20 21 Feb 1995 American businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett became the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon. He landed in Saskatchewan, Canada having taken off from South Korea. 20 22 Feb 1995 Death of Ed Flanders, award-winning American stage, film and television actor. Best known for his role as Dr. Donald Westphall in the TV medical drama series St. Elsewhere. 20 23 Feb 1995 Death of Melvin Franklin, American bass singer (The Temptations). 20 23 Feb 1995 Death of James Herriot, British veterinary surgeon and writer who wrote semi-autobiographical stories about his experiences. Best known for the book (and TV series) All Creatures Great and Small. 20 25 Feb 1995 Death of Jack Clayton, British film director (Room at the Top, The Innocents, (or 26th?) and more). 20 26 Feb 1995 Barings Bank, the oldest merchant bank in London, collapsed after its chief trader in Singapore, Nick Leeson, lost £827 million ($1.3 billion) on unauthorised transactions. 20 27 Feb 1995 Death of Bernard Cornfeld, Turkish-born American businessman and international financier. He was charged with fraud and jailed for 11 months, but later acquitted. 20 28 Feb 1995 The Cenepa War between Peru and Ecuador officially ended with the signing of the Montevideo Declaration. 20 28 Feb 1995 Denver International Airport opened in Colorado, USA 20 28 Feb 1995 Death of Walter Allen, British literary critic and novelist, known for the breadth and accessibility of his work. Best known for The English Novel: a Short Critical History. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 38 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 28 Feb 1995 Death of Max Rudolf, German-born American conductor, music director (or 1st Mar?) and educator. 15 6 Feb 2000 Second Chechen War – the Battle of Grozny ended. Russian forces seized the capital city and raised the Russian flag over the city centre; the separatist government fell. (Battles continued until May and fighting against insurgents continued until 2009.) 15 11 Feb 2000 The British Government suspended the Northern Ireland Assembly after (to 29 May) it failed to strike a deal on decommissioning IRA weapons. 15 13 Feb 2000 The last-ever Peanuts comic strip was published in Sunday newspapers, the day after cartoonist Charles M. Schulz’s death (on 12th Feb). (The last daily strip was published on 3rd Jan) 15 14 Feb 2000 NASA’s NEAR Shoemaker became the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid (Eros). (It completed 230 orbits before landing on Eros a year later, when it became the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid rather than crashing into one.) 15 17 Feb 2000 Microsoft released Windows 2000 (aimed at business users). 10 1 Feb 2005 King Gyanendra of Nepal dismissed the government and took direct control after it was unable to restore peace during the Nepalese Civil War. (Parliament was restored in April 2006. The monarchy was abolished in May 2008 and Nepal became a republic.) 10 2 Feb 2005 Death of Max Schmeling, German world heavyweight boxing champion. 10 3 Feb 2005 Death of Ernst Mayr, German-born American biologist. One of the leading evolutionary biologists of the 20th century. 10 3 Feb 2005 Death of Zurab Zhvania, Prime Minister of Georgia (2004–05). Succeeded by Zurab Noghaideli. 10 4 Feb 2005 Death of Ossie Davis, award-winning American stage, film and television actor, writer, director and civil rights/humanitarian activist. Noted for his contributions to African American theatre and film. 10 5 Feb 2005 Death of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, President of Togo (1967–2005). The longest-serving ruler in Africa at the time of his death. 10 6 Feb 2005 Death of Lazar Berman, Russian-born Italian classical pianist. 10 6 Feb 2005 Death of Karl Haas, German-born American classical music radio host (Adventures in Good Music). 10 7 Feb 2005 British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur broke the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe, gaining international renown. (The record was broken by Francis Joyon of France in 2008.) 10 8 Feb 2005 Israel and the Palestinian Authority signed a truce at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, ending the 4-year Second Intifada. 10 8 Feb 2005 Death of Jimmy Smith, award-winning American jazz musician who popularised the Hammond B-3 organ in jazz. 10 9 Feb 2005 Death of Tyrone Davis, American R&B/soul singer. Best known for his hit songs Can I Change My Mind, Turn Back the Hands of Time and Turning Point.

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Ann. Date Event 10 9 Feb 2005 Death of Robert Kearns, American engineer. Inventor of the intermittent windscreen wiper. 10 10 Feb 2005 Death of Arthur Miller, prize-winning American playwright. Best known for All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, The Misfits. Husband of Marilyn Monroe. 10 11 Feb 2005 Death of Stan Richards, British television actor. Best known for his role as Seth Armstrong in the soap opera Emmerdale. 10 12 Feb 2005 Death of Sister Dorothy Stang, American-born Brazilian missionary and activist who championed the cause of peasant farmers in the Amazon rainforest. (Murdered.) 10 13 Feb 2005 Death of Lúcia Santos, Portuguese Carmelite nun who claimed to witness a series of visions of the Virgin Mary at Fátima in 1917 – it subsequently became one of the most famous shrines in the world. 10 13 Feb 2005 Death of Dick Weber, American professional bowler. One of the sport’s most popular players. 10 14 Feb 2005 Valentine’s Day bombings, Philippines. 8 people were killed and about 150 injured when an Islamist separatist group detonated bombs in the cities of Manila, Davao and General Santos. 10 14 Feb 2005 The popular video-sharing website YouTube was founded. (It was officially launched in November after several months of development and testing.) 10 14 Feb 2005 Death of Rafic (also spelled Rafik/Rafiq) al-Hariri, Prime Minister of Lebanon (1992–98, 2000–04). His assassination triggered massive political change in Lebanon, including the Cedar Revolution and the withdrawal of Syrian troops. 10 16 Feb 2005 The Kyoto Protocol came into effect. The international treaty obliges industrialised nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. 10 16 Feb 2005 The National Hockey League (NHL) cancelled the entire 2004–2005 season over a labour dispute. It was the first major sports league in North America to do so. (The 10-month dispute began on 16th Sept 2004 and the entire season was cancelled when last-ditch negotiations failed.) 10 16 Feb 2005 Death of Narriman Sadek, last Queen of Egypt, second wife of King Farouk, mother of King Fuad II. 10 17 Feb 2005 Death of Dan O’Herlihy, Irish stage, film and television actor. Best known for his lead role in the film The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. 10 17 Feb 2005 Death of Omar Sivori, Argentine/Italian football player and manager. European Footballer of the Year (1961). 10 18 Feb 2005 Hunting wild mammals with dogs was banned in England and Wales. (Hunting foxes with dogs had already been banned in Scotland.) 10 20 Feb 2005 Spain became the first country to hold a referendum on the ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union. Its citizens voted in favour of ratification, but turnout was low. (France and the Netherlands rejected ratification in May and June, bringing the process to a halt.) 10 20 Feb 2005 Death of Sandra Dee, award-winning American model and film actress. Popular in the 1960s. Wife of pop singer Bobby Darin. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 40 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 20 Feb 2005 Death of John Raitt, American stage and film actor and singer, known for his baritone voice and powerful stage presence. Best known for his performances in musical theatre. Father of the singer Bonnie Raitt. 10 20 Feb 2005 Death of Hunter S. Thompson, American journalist and writer. Creator of Gonzo journalism (where reporters get involved in the action themselves and become central figures in the stories). 10 21 Feb 2005 Death of Ara Berberian, American operatic bass. 10 21 Feb 2005 Death of Guillermo Cabrera Infante, award-winning Cuban novelist, short story writer, film critic and essayist. An outspoken critic of Fidel Castro’s regime. Lived in exile in London. Best known for his novel Three Trapped Tigers. 10 22 Feb 2005 Death of Simone Simon, French film actress. Best known outside France for the film Cat People. 10 25 Feb 2005 American serial killer Dennis Rader (the ‘BTK killer’) was arrested in Wichita, Kansas. (On 18th Aug he was sentenced to 10 consecutive life terms in prison for torturing and killing 10 people.) 10 25 Feb 2005 Death of Peter Benenson, British lawyer and human rights activist. Founder of Amnesty International. 10 26 Feb 2005 Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ordered the Constitution to be amended to allow multi-candidate presidential elections. (A referendum was held in May and the amendment was passed. A presidential election was held in September under the new rules and Mubarak was re-elected.) 10 26 Feb 2005 Death of Jef Raskin, American computer scientist who pioneered the graphical user interface. He started the Mackintosh project while working at Apple Computer, but left the company before it went on sale.

MARCH 2015

Ann. Date Event 800 4 Mar 1215 King John of England swore a vow as a crusader in order to gain Pope Innocent III’s support. 600 10 Mar 1415 Birth of Vasily II, (Vasily the Blind), Grand Prince of Moscow. 500 28 Mar 1515 Birth of Saint Teresa of Ávila, Spanish Carmelite nun, writer and mystic who reformed the Carmelite Order. The first woman to be made a doctor of the Roman Catholic church. 400 6 Mar 1615 Death of Pieter Both, Dutch colonialist, first Governor-General of the ? Dutch East Indies. (Drowned in a shipwreck while returning to the Netherlands.) 400 13 Mar 1615 Birth of Pope Innocent XII. 400 27 Mar 1615 Death of Marguerite of Valois, Queen consort of France and of Navarre (1589–99). First wife of Henry IV of France. Noted for her scandalous behaviour – and for revealing that of others. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 41 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 300 7 Mar 1715 Birth of Ewald Christian von Kleist, German lyric poet. Best known for Der Frühling (The Spring). 250 Mar 1765 Birth of Charles Dibdin, British composer, writer, actor and theatrical ? manager, known for his sea songs and operas. Best known for the song Poor Tom Bowling. (Date of birth not known. Baptised 4th or 15th March.) 250 3 Mar 1765 Death of William Stukeley, English antiquarian, clergyman and biographer who pioneered the archaeological investigations of the ancient stone circles at Stonehenge and Avebury. 250 7 Mar 1765 Birth of Nicéphore Niépce, French inventor and photography pioneer who made the first known photographic image (a copy of an engraving) in 1822 and the first permanent photographic image of a scene from nature (taken using a camera obscura) in 1825. 250 27 Mar 1765 Birth of Franz Xaver von Baader, influential German Roman Catholic philosopher and mystical theologian. 200 3 Mar 1815 The USA declared war on Algiers, leading to the Second Barbary War (1815–16, U.S. victory). 200 4 Mar 1815 Birth of Myrtilla Miner, American educator and abolitionist. Established a successful school for African Americans despite considerable opposition. 200 5 Mar 1815 Birth of John Wentworth, American congressman from Illinois, twice mayor of Chicago (1855–58, 1860–61). 200 5 Mar 1815 Death of Franz Mesmer, German physician who developed mesmerism – the forerunner of modern hypnotism. 200 9 Mar 1815 Birth of David Davis, American lawyer and politician. Senator from Illinois. President Abraham Lincoln’s campaign manager. Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. 200 10 Mar 1815 The Kandyan Convention was signed by Britain and the Chiefs of the Kandyan Kingdom in Sri Lanka. The kingdom became part of the British Empire, King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was deposed, and the British monarch was accepted as their new king. 200 15 Mar 1815 The Neopolitan War (Italy); Austrian victory. (to 20 May) 200 16 Mar 1815 William, Prince of Orange-Nassau proclaimed the Netherlands a kingdom and himself King William I of the Netherlands and Duke of Luxembourg. 200 20 Mar 1815 Napoleon returned to Paris as Emperor of France after escaping from exile. (On 18th June he was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo and was detained on the island of Saint Helena for the rest of his life.) 175 1 Mar 1840 Adolphe Thiers became Prime Minister of France for the second time. (He became President in 1871.) 175 30 Mar 1840 Death of Beau Brummell, British dandy and fashion leader. Noted for his friendship with the Prince Regent (later King George IV). Established the man’s suit with neck tie as a fashion. Went insane from syphilis and died in a French asylum. 150 2 Mar 1865 American Civil War – the battle of Waynesboro (Virginia); Union victory that ended Confederate resistance in the Shenandoah Valley. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 42 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 2 Mar 1865 Second Taranaki War (New Zealand): the Volkner Incident. German missionary Carl Sylvius Völkner was arrested for espionage by Hauhau militants when he returned from Auckland (on 1st Mar) with medicine to treat a typhoid outbreak. He was brutally executed the following day. As a result the town of Opotiki was declared a military settlement and Imperial troops remained in New Zealand for several years. 150 3 Mar 1865 Dominican Restoration War: Queen Isabella II of Spain annulled the annexation of the Dominican Republic after the Spanish Government decided to cease funding a war for territory it did not need. (All Spanish troops left the Dominican Republic by 15th July and Dominican sovereignty was restored.) 150 3 Mar 1865 The Freedmen’s Bureau was established by the U.S. Congress. It provided aid to freed slaves during the Reconstruction era and encouraged whites and blacks to work as employers and employees rather than masters and slaves. 150 3 Mar 1865 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) began operating. 150 4 Mar 1865 Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President of the United States for a second term. (He was assassinated a month later.) 150 4 Mar 1865 The Confederate States of America adopted its third (and final) official flag design – the ‘Blood Stained Banner’. 150 6 Mar 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Natural Bridge (Florida); Confederate victory. 150 8 Mar 1865 Birth of Frederic Goudy, American printer and typographer who designed more than 100 typefaces including Copperplate Gothic and Goudy Old Style. 150 9 Mar 1865 Birth of Margaret Murray Washington, American educator and civil rights campaigner. Co-founder of the National Association of Colored Women. Principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University). Wife of Booker T. Washington. 150 10 Mar 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Monroe’s Crossroads (North Carolina); result inconclusive. This was the last cavalry battle of the war. 150 11 Mar 1865 American Civil War: General Sherman’s Union Army occupied the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, destroying the Confederate arsenal, foundries, cotton factories and the offices of The Fayetteville Observer. 150 13 Mar 1865 American Civil War: the Congress of the Confederate States of America authorised the use of African American slaves as soldiers in order to increase its military force. 150 16 Mar 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Averasborough (North Carolina); result inconclusive. Although each side suffered roughly equal losses (approx 700), the Union could afford them whereas the Confederacy could not. This left the Confederacy weakened as they entered the Battle of Bentonville (see below). 150 19 Mar 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Bentonville (North Carolina); Union (to 21st) victory.

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Ann. Date Event 150 22 Mar 1865 American Civil War – Wilson’s Raid (Alabama and Georgia). The raid (to 20 Apr) included the Battles of Selma, West Point and Columbus – all Union victories. 150 25 Mar 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Fort Stedman (Virginia); Union victory. 150 25 Mar 1865 The Claywater Meteorite exploded just above the ground in Vernon County, Wisconsin, USA. Two fragments with a combined weight of 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) were recovered. 150 26 Mar 1865 Death of Thomas Hancock, British inventor who founded the British rubber industry. He also invented the masticator, which enabled recycled rubber to be shredded and formed into blocks or sheets, and partnered with Charles Mackintosh (inventor of waterproof fabrics) to produce the mackintosh coat. 150 27 Mar 1865 American Civil War – the Mobile Campaign – the Battle of Spanish Fort (to 8 Apr) (Alabama); Union victory. 150 29 Mar 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Quaker Road (Virginia); Union victory. (Also known as the Battle of Lewis’s Farm, the Battle of Military Road or the Battle of Gravelly Run.) 150 31 Mar 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of White Oak Road (Virginia); Union victory. 150 31 Mar 1865 American Civil War: the Union Army steamer SS General Lyon caught fire (or 17th?) and sank off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina when barrels of fuel spilled onto the boiler in rough seas. Only 29 out of more than 600 passengers survived. Casualties included discharged Union servicemen returning from the war, Confederate prisoners-of-war, and civilian refugees. 125 4 Mar 1890 The Forth Bridge (also known as The Forth Railway Bridge) in Scotland was officially opened. It was the first major steel structure in Britain. 125 9 Mar 1890 Birth of Vyacheslav Molotov, Soviet foreign minister during and after WWII. Molotov cocktails (improvised incendiary weapons made from glass bottles) are named after him. 125 12 Mar 1890 Birth of Vaslav Nijinsky, Russian-born ballet dancer and choreographer. (or 1889?) 125 20 Mar 1890 The Chancellor of Germany, Otto Von Bismarck, was removed from office by Kaiser Wilhelm II. He was succeeded by Leo von Caprivi. 125 21 Mar 1890 Austria passed a law resolving to establish new Jewish communities which would be granted religious autonomy. 125 21 Mar 1890 The United States Polo Association (USPA) was founded. 100 3 Mar 1915 The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was founded in the USA. In Oct 1958 it was dissolved and became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 100 4 Mar 1915 Birth of Carlos Surinach, Spanish-born American composer and conductor. Known for his vibrant ballets which incorporated elements of flamenco. 100 4 Mar 1915 Death of William Willett, British builder. Best known for his vigorous campaigning for the adoption of British Summer Time (BST). (BST was adopted in May 1917 – two years after his death.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 44 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 5 Mar 1915 Birth of Laurent Schwartz, award-winning French mathematician, known for his work on functional analysis. Pioneered the theory of distributions. 100 7 Mar 1915 Birth of Jacques Chaban-Delmas, Prime Minister of France (1969–72), Mayor of Bordeaux for nearly 50 years. 100 9 Mar 1915 Birth of Johnnie Johnson, British RAF pilot. The most successful Allied fighter pilot in Europe during WWII. 100 10 Mar 1915 World War I – the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, France; British tactical victory. (to 13th) 100 10 Mar 1915 World War I: the Zion Mule Corps was formed – a Jewish volunteer force. On 23rd they were sworn in as a detachment of the British Army. 562 Jewish volunteers took part in the Gallipoli Campaign. 100 10 Mar 1915 Birth of Harry Bertoia, Italian-born American sculptor and designer. Known for his monumental architectural sculptures, sound art and modern furniture, especially the classic Bertoia (Diamond) chair. 100 11 Mar 1915 Birth of Vijay Hazare, Indian cricketer. 100 11 Mar 1915 Birth of J(oseph) C(arl) R(obnett) Licklider, American psychologist and computer/internet pioneer. One of the most important figures in computer science. Made key contributions to today’s graphical user interfaces and the ARPANET (precursor of the internet). 100 11 Mar 1915 Death of Rolf Boldrewood (pen name of Thomas Alexander Browne), British-born Australian novelist whose books realistically portray life in colonial Australia. Best known for Robbery Under Arms. 100 12 Mar 1915 Birth of Alberto Burri, Italian doctor, abstract artist and sculptor. Known for his adventurous use of materials such as rags, charred wood, polythene, resin, tar and scrap metal. 100 13 Mar 1915 Death of Sergey (also spelled Sergei) Yulyevich, Count Witte, Prime Minister of the Russian Empire (1905-06). A highly influential policy- maker. 100 14 Mar 1915 Birth of Alexander Brott, Canadian conductor, composer, violinist and educator who championed symphony music in Canada. 100 14 Mar 1915 Death of Walter Crane, British artist and children’s book illustrator. 100 17 Mar 1915 Birth of Bill Roycroft, Australian equestrian. Won gold in the team three- day event at the 1960 Olympics (while severely injured), and competed in 5 consecutive Olympics. 100 18 Mar 1915 World War I – the Battle of Gallipoli: the Allies launched their main attack on Ottoman forts along the strait. Two British battleships, HMS Irresistible and HMS Ocean, and the French battleship Bouvet were sunk by mines. 100 18 Mar 1915 Birth of Richard Condon, American novelist. Best known for his political thrillers (The Manchurian Candidate, Winter Kills, Prizzi’s Honor, and more). 100 20 Mar 1915 Birth of Rudolf Kirchschläger, President of Austria (1974–86). 100 20 Mar 1915 Birth of Sviatoslav Richter, Soviet-Ukrainian piano virtuoso. One of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. 100 21 Mar 1915 Death of Frederick Winslow Taylor, American mechanical engineer and inventor. Known for his work on improving industrial efficiency. Regarded as the father of scientific management. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 45 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 25 Mar 1915 The first submarine disaster in U.S. naval history. The USS F-4 (formerly Skate) exploded and sank off Honolulu, Hawaii, killing all 21 crew. 100 27 Mar 1915 Typhoid Mary (Mary Mallon) was arrested in New York and put into quarantine for the second and final time. She would remain there for the rest of her life. (She had been released from quarantine in 1910 on condition that she cease working as a cook. However, she changed her name and resumed work, causing multiple typhoid outbreaks. She is thought to have infected about 50 people, 3 of whom died.) 100 27 Mar 1915 Birth of Robert Lockwood, Jr., American blues guitarist. 100 27 Mar 1915 Birth of Denton Welch, Chinese-born British artist and novelist. (or 29th?) Known for his precise and vivid descriptions. Best known for the novels Maiden Voyage and In Youth is Pleasure. 100 28 Mar 1915 Birth of Jay Livingston, Academy Award-winning American composer and songwriter who collaborated with Ray Evans to write songs for more than 80 films. (Their songs include Buttons and Bows, Que Sera, Sera, and many more.) 100 31 Mar 1915 Birth of Albert Hourani, British historian. An expert on the Middle East. 100 31 Mar 1915 Birth of Henry Morgan, American radio announcer, comedian, TV host and game show panelist. 100 31 Mar 1915 Death of Wyndham Halswelle, British athlete. 400m gold medallist at the 1908 Olympics. The only athlete to win an Olympic title by a walkover (all the other competitors were either disqualified or withdrew). This incident led to the founding of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which established a set of uniform worldwide rules rather than each country having its own rules. 90 4 Mar 1925 Calvin Coolidge was inaugurated as President of the United States for a second term. (His first, partial, term was as a successor to Warren G. Harding who died in office in 1923.) This was the first U.S. presidential inauguration to be broadcast on the radio. 90 4 Mar 1925 The USA annexed Swains Island and it became part of American Samoa. 90 5 Mar 1925 Frank B. Kellogg became U.S. Secretary of State. 90 6 Mar 1925 The Russian children’s newspaper Pionerskaya Pravda was founded. 90 9 Mar 1925 Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler was banned from speaking in public by the Government of Bavaria (and several other German states shortly after). 90 18 Mar 1925 The Tri-State Tornado hit Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, USA. (It is currently the deadliest tornado in U.S. history, killing 695 people.) 90 21 Mar 1925 Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland was officially opened. 90 31 Mar 1925 Iran adopted the Solar Hijri calendar. 80 1 Mar 1935 Saar (also known as the Territory of the Saar Basin) was reincorporated into Germany as the federal state of Saarland following a referendum. It had been occupied and governed by the UK and France since 1920 under a League of Nations mandate. 80 2 Mar 1935 Birth of Al Waxman, Canadian radio, stage, film and television actor. Best known for his roles in the TV series King of Kensington and Cagney & Lacey. (Died 2001.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 46 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 3 Mar 1935 The Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (RSAP) was formed in the Netherlands when the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Independent Socialist Party merged. (It was dissolved in May 1940.) 80 4 Mar 1935 Birth of Bent Larsen, Danish chess grandmaster. Known for his unorthodox, innovative and risky moves. (Died 2010.) 80 6 Mar 1935 Death of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., American legal historian and philosopher. Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1902–32). 80 11 Mar 1935 The Bank of Canada began operating. 80 16 Mar 1935 Adolf Hitler ordered the rearming of Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles. He also reintroduced conscription. 80 16 Mar 1935 Death of J(ohn) J(ames) R(ichard) Macleod, Scottish physiologist. Joint winner of the 1923 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for helping to discover and isolate insulin. 80 16 Mar 1935 Death of Aron Nimzowitsch, influential Latvian-born Danish chess master and writer. 80 18 Mar 1935 The 30 mph speed limit in built-up areas came into effect in the UK. 80 21 Mar 1935 Persia was renamed Iran. (The two names were used interchangeably for many years.) 80 21 Mar 1935 Birth of Brian Clough, British football player and manager. Best known as the manager of Nottingham Forest (1975–93). (Died 2004.) 80 22 Mar 1935 Blood tests were first used to determine paternity cases in the USA. 80 23 Mar 1935 The Constitution of the Philippines was signed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Philippines President Manuel L. Quezon. 80 24 Mar 1935 The first episode of the popular talent show Major Bowes Amateur Hour was broadcast on NBC Radio in the USA. (It began in April 1934 as a New York-only show but went national on this date. It transferred to CBS in Sept 1936 and there was also a TV version from 1948.) 80 25 Mar 1935 Paul van Zeeland became Prime Minister of Belgium. 80 27 Mar 1935 Birth of Stanley Rother, American Roman Catholic priest. Missionary to Guatemala. Now considered a martyr after returning to his mission despite his name being on a death list. (Murdered by right-wing extremists in 1981.) 75 4 Mar 1940 Death of Hamlin Garland, American novelist, poet, essayist and short story writer. Best known for his stories about Midwestern farmers. 75 5 Mar 1940 World War II: the Katyn Massacre. The Soviet Politburo approved the execution of 22,000 captured Polish army officers, police officers and members of the intelligentsia. They were executed by the Soviet secret police (NKVD) in the Katyn Forest, Russia during April and May. (The massacre was discovered about 3 years later.) 75 5 Mar 1940 Death of Cai Yuanpei, Chinese educator and nationalist. President of Peking University. Founder of the Academia Sinica. 75 6 Mar 1940 The first airborne telecast. American TV announcer Ray Forrest provided a live commentary as a United Airlines plane with TV cameras on board flew low over New York City. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 47 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 75 6 Mar 1940 Birth of Willie Stargell, (‘Pops’), American baseball player. (Died 2001.) 75 9 Mar 1940 Birth of Raúl Juliá, versatile Puerto Rican-born American stage, film and television actor (Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Addams Family, Addams Family Values, and more). (Died 1994.) 75 10 Mar 1940 The first opera to be televised in the USA: the Metropolitan Opera’s performance of Pagliacci from the Rockefeller Center, New York City. 75 10 Mar 1940 Death of Mikhail Bulgakov, Soviet playwright, novelist and short story writer. Best known for his fantasy novel The Master and Margarita, regarded as one of the masterpieces of the 20th century. 75 13 Mar 1940 World War II: the Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland ended with the signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty. Parts of Finland were ceded to the Soviets, but it retained its independence. 75 16 Mar 1940 Death of Selma Lagerlöf, Swedish novelist. The first woman and the first Swedish writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature (1909). 75 18 Mar 1940 World War II: German dictator Adolf Hitler and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini met at the Brenner Pass in the Alps. Mussolini agreed to join Germany’s war against France and Britain. 75 19 Mar 1940 World War II: French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier resigned after failing to help Finland during the Winter War. He was succeeded by Paul Reynaud on 21st. 75 21 Mar 1940 Birth of Solomon Burke, American R&B/soul singer. One of the founding fathers of soul music. (Died 2010.) 75 22 Mar 1940 Birth of Haing S. Ngor, Academy Award-winning Cambodian physician and actor. Best known for The Killing Fields. (Murdered Feb 1996.) 75 23 Mar 1940 The Lahore Resolution was adopted by the All-India Muslim League at its (24th in annual convention. This led to the establishment of Pakistan as the Pakistan) world’s first Islamic republic in 1956. 75 23 Mar 1940 The first episode of the game show Truth or Consequences was broadcast on NBC radio in the USA. (It was also broadcast on TV from 1950.) 75 26 Mar 1940 Death of Spiridon Louis, Greek athlete who won the first modern-day Olympic marathon in 1896. 75 27 Mar 1940 Death of Michael Joseph Savage, first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand (1935–40) and architect of the welfare state. Named the greatest New Zealander of the 20th century. 75 29 Mar 1940 Death of Alexander Obolensky, (The Flying Prince/Slav), Russian-born prince who became a British citizen and represented England in international Rugby Union. (Killed in a WWII plane crash.) 75 30 Mar 1940 Wang Jingwei (also spelled Wang Ching-wei) became President of the Republic of China – a Japanese-supported collaborationist puppet state based in Nanjing. (Commonly known as the Wang Jingwei regime.) 75 31 Mar 1940 The Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) was established. (In 1991 it became the Republic of Karelia.) 70 Mar 1945 Death of Anne Frank, Dutch Jewish diarist and Holocaust victim who ? died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, Germany at the age of 15, probably from typhus. Known for The Diary of a Young Girl. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 48 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 70 1 Mar 1945 World War II: Field Marshal Albert Kesselring succeeded Gerd von Rundstedt as commander of the German Armed Forces on the Western Front. 70 3 Mar 1945 World War II: due to navigational error the British RAF mistakenly bombed a heavily populated area of The Hague, Netherlands, killing 511 people. Their target was supposed to be a V-2 rocket installation in a nearby park. 70 3 Mar 1945 World War II: U.S. and Filipino troops recaptured Manila, the capital of the Philippines, from the Japanese. 70 3 Mar 1945 World War II: Finland declared war on Germany, its former Axis partner, after switching sides. 70 6 Mar 1945 Petru Groza became Prime Minister of Romania. This marked the beginning of the Communist regime in Romania. 70 6 Mar 1945 World War II: U.S. forces captured the German city of Cologne. 70 6 Mar 1945 World War II: Erich Honnecker (later Leader of East Germany) escaped from prison in Berlin during an Allied bombing raid. (He had been sentenced to 10 years for treason and falsifying documents in 1937. He handed himself back in a few days later, and was released in April when the Soviet Red Army liberated the prisons.) 70 7 Mar 1945 World War II – the Battle of Remagen, Germany; Allied victory. U.S. (to 25th) forces captured Ludendorff Bridge over the River Rhine and advanced into the rest of Germany. (The bridge collapsed on 17th after days of bombardment by the Germans as they tried to prevent the Americans from crossing.) 70 7 Mar 1945 World War II: the Allies liberated Lashio, Burma. 70 8 Mar 1945 World War II: Canadian troops captured the German city of Xanten. British forces then occupied it. 85% of the city had been destroyed. 70 9 Mar 1945 World War II – Operation Meetinghouse (the Bombing of Tokyo, Japan). (to 10th) Considered to be the most destructive air raid in history. 330 U.S. B-29 bombers carried out low-altitude incendiary bomb attacks on Tokyo, destroying a quarter of the city and killing over 100,000 people. 70 11 Mar 1945 World War II – Operation Tan No. 2. The Imperial Japanese Navy launched a long-range kamikaze attack against the Allied fleet anchored at Ulithi atoll; result inconclusive. 70 11 Mar 1945 World War II: the Empire of Vietnam was established. It was a short-lived puppet state established by Japan. (Dissolved 23rd Aug.) 70 12 Mar 1945 New York became the first U.S. state to ban discrimination against job applicants and employees on the basis of their race, religion or creed. (Ives–Quinn Anti-Discrimination Bill.) 70 13 Mar 1945 World War II: Queen Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands, having evacuated to the UK at the start of the war. 70 14 Mar 1945 World War II: the British RAF used its Grand Slam earthquake bomb for the first time, causing a 100-yard (91m) stretch of the Schildesche viaduct to collapse, knocking out one of Germany’s major rail routes. (The earthquake bomb was invented by Barnes Wallis, better known for his ‘Dam Busters’ bouncing bombs.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 49 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 70 15 Mar 1945 Billboard published the first album chart in the USA. (The first #1 album was The King Cole Trio.) 70 16 Mar 1945 World War II: the British RAF bombed Würzburg in Germany, destroying 90% of the city in just 17 minutes. A fire-storm resulted in the deaths of 5,000 people. 70 19 Mar 1945 World War II: Adolf Hitler issued his ‘Nero Decree’ – an order to destroy all German infrastructure and everything of value to prevent it from being used by the Allies. (The German Minister of Armaments and War Production, Albert Speer, was so appalled by this that he requested sole responsibility for carrying out the order and then deliberately ignored it.) 70 19 Mar 1945 World War II: the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Franklin was bombed off the coast of Japan, killing 800 crew. (It was the most heavily damaged U.S. aircraft carrier to survive the war.) 70 21 Mar 1945 World War II: Operation Carthage (Copenhagen, Denmark); British victory. The RAF destroyed the Danish headquarters of the Gestapo, but also hit a school, accidentally killing 125 civilians including 86 children. (RAF leaders had initially turned down the operation as the building was in the crowded city centre and civilian deaths were a high risk.) 70 21 Mar 1945 World War II: British troops liberated Mandalay, Burma. 70 22 Mar 1945 The Arab League was established in Cairo, Egypt. 70 24 Mar 1945 World War II – Operation Varsity (Wesel, Germany); Allied victory. The USA, Britain and Canada carried out the largest single-day airborne landing operation in history, involving more than 16,000 paratroopers and thousands of aircraft. 70 26 Mar 1945 World War II: U.S. forces landed in the Kerama Islands and secured them over the next 5 days, ahead of the Battle of Okinawa. 70 26 Mar 1945 World War II: the Battle of Iwo Jima ended; U.S. Victory. 70 26 Mar 1945 Death of David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister (1916–22). 70 27 Mar 1945 World War II – Operation Starvation (Japan); U.S. victory. The USA (to April) mined vital ports and waterways in Japan to disrupt shipping. 70 27 Mar 1945 World War II: the last German V-2 rocket hit Britain, killing one person in Orpington, Kent. 70 28 Mar 1945 World War II: U.S. forces captured the German city of Wiesbaden. 70 29 Mar 1945 World War II: the last German V-1 flying bomb hit Britain (Datchworth, Hertfordshire). On the same day, the Allies captured the last German V-1 launch site, preventing further attacks. 70 30 Mar 1945 World War II: the Soviet Red Army captured the city of Gdansk, Poland from the Germans. 70 31 Mar 1945 Tennessee Williams’s play The Glass Menagerie opened on Broadway. 65 1 Mar 1950 Chiang Kai-shek reassumed the presidency of the Republic of China, having relocated the nationalist government to Taiwan. 65 1 Mar 1950 German-born nuclear physicist Klaus Fuchs was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 14 years in prison in the USA. (He served 9 years then returned to Germany to continue his scientific career.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 50 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 65 2 Mar 1950 Birth of Karen Carpenter, American singer and drummer (The Carpenters). (Died 1983.) 65 8 Mar 1950 British car manufacturer Rover unveiled and road-tested the first car to be powered by a gas turbine engine. 65 12 Mar 1950 Llandow air disaster, Sigingstone, Wales. A privately hired plane stalled and crashed during a return flight from Ireland, killing 75 passengers and all 5 crew (3 passengers survived). It was the world’s worst air disaster at that time. 65 12 Mar 1950 In a referendum the citizens of Belgium voted in favour of King Leopold III returning from exile as their sovereign. 65 14 Mar 1950 The FBI published their first list of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. 65 17 Mar 1950 The creation of the chemical element Californium (Cf – atomic no. 98) was announced by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. 65 19 Mar 1950 Death of Edgar Rice Burroughs, American novelist. Best known for creating the character Tarzan. 65 23 Mar 1950 The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was established in Geneva, Switzerland. 65 23 Mar 1950 Sophocles Venizelos became Prime Minister of Greece (for 3 weeks). (This was his second term; his third was from Aug 1950 to Oct 1951.) 65 23 Mar 1950 The first episode of the television game show Beat the Clock was broadcast on CBS in the USA. 60 2 Mar 1955 King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia abdicated and was succeeded by his father King Norodom Suramarit. (Norodom Sihanouk became king for the second time in 1993.) 60 3 Mar 1955 Elvis Presley made his first television appearance on the show Louisiana Hayride – broadcast in the Louisiana area only. (His first national TV appearance was on 28th Jan 1956 on the Dorsey Brothers’ Stage Show.) 60 4 Mar 1955 The first radio fax transmission to be sent across the USA. 60 5 Mar 1955 Death of Antanas Merkys, Prime Minister of Lithuania (1939–40). 60 8 Mar 1955 Death of Princess Clémentine of Belgium, wife of Napoleon Victor Bonaparte, pretender to the French throne (as Napoleon V). 60 9 Mar 1955 Death of Matthew A(lexander) Henson, African American explorer who accompanied Robert E. Peary on most of his expeditions, including the 1909 expedition when they became the first men to reach the North Pole. 60 11 Mar 1955 Death of Sir Alexander Fleming, Scottish bacteriologist. Joint winner of the 1945 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovering penicillin. 60 11 Mar 1955 Death of Oscar F. Mayer, German-born American founder of the Oscar Mayer processed meat company. 60 12 Mar 1955 Death of Charlie Parker, (‘Bird’, ‘Yardbird’), influential American jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader. One of the most important figures in jazz history. 60 12 Mar 1955 Death of Theodor Plievier, German war novelist. One of the first native Germans to examine his country’s role in WWII. Best known for his novel Stalingrad. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 51 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 13 Mar 1955 Death of Tribhuvan, King of Nepal (1911–50, 1951–55). Died in mysterious circumstances. Succeeded by Mahendra. 60 16 Mar 1955 Death of Nicolas de Staël, Russian-born French abstract artist. 60 22 Mar 1955 Death of Ivan Šubašic, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (1944 – for 4 months), last Ban (equivalent to prime minister) of Croatia (1939–43). 60 23 Mar 1955 Death of Artur Bernardes, President of Brazil (1922–26). He ruled under a state of siege for most of his time in office. 60 24 Mar 1955 Tennessee Williams’s play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opened on Broadway. 60 30 Mar 1955 Birth of Randy VanWarmer, American singer and songwriter. Best known for the song Just When I Needed You Most. (Died 2004.) 60 31 Mar 1955 Chase National Bank and the Bank of Manhattan Company merged to (or 1st?) form Chase Manhattan Bank (now known as Chase), the second-largest U.S. Bank. 50 2 Mar 1965 Vietnam War – Operation Rolling Thunder. The USA and Republic of (to 2 Nov Vietnam launched a sustained aerial bombardment campaign against 1968) North Vietnam. 50 2 Mar 1965 The première of the film The Sound of Music in New York City, USA. (UK: 29th March.) 50 5 Mar 1965 March Intifada, Bahrain – a Leftist uprising against the British presence in (to April) Bahrain after hundreds of workers were laid off from the Bahrain Petroleum Company. 6 people were killed in clashes with police. 50 7 Mar 1965 Selma to Montgomery civil rights protest marches, Alabama, USA. (to 25th) Martin Luther King, Jr. made three attempts to lead a protest march to the state capitol in support of voting rights for African Americans. (The third attempt succeeded, arriving on 25th March. The first attempt in particular was marred by violence when marchers were attacked by state troopers.) 50 8 Mar 1965 Vietnam War: 3,500 U.S. Marines landed in South Vietnam – the first U.S. combat troops to take part in the war. (This marked the beginning of the USA’s main involvement in the war.) 50 10 Mar 1965 Neil Simon’s play The Odd Couple opened on Broadway. 50 13 Mar 1965 Death of Corrado Gini, Italian statistician, demographer and sociologist. Best known for developing the Gini coefficient (a measure of statistical dispersion). 50 13 Mar 1965 Death of Fan S. Noli, Prime Minister of Albania (1924 – for 6 months). 50 17 Mar 1965 Death of Amos Alonzo Stagg, pioneering American athlete and coach, most notably in American football where he had the longest coaching career in the history of the sport (71 years). 50 18 Mar 1965 Soviet cosmonaut Aleksei (also spelled Alexey) Leonov became the first person to make a space walk. 50 18 Mar 1965 Death of Farouk I, effectively the last King of Egypt (1936–52). 50 19 Mar 1965 The wreck of the Confederate steamer SS Georgiana was discovered in Charleston harbor, South Carolina, USA after 102 years. 50 19 Mar 1965 Death of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, Communist leader of Romania (1947–65). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 52 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 21 Mar 1965 NASA launched its Ranger 9 spacecraft on a mission to crash into the surface of the Moon and send back live TV images as it made its final approach. (It crashed into the Moon as intended on 24th March and the images were broadcast live across the USA to millions of viewers.) 50 23 Mar 1965 NASA launched its Gemini 3 spacecraft on the USA’s first two-man space flight. The astronauts were Gus Grissom and John Young. 50 23 Mar 1965 Death of Mae Murray, (‘The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips’ / ‘The Gardenia of the Screen’), American stage and silent film actress, dancer, screenwriter and producer. 50 24 Mar 1965 Chivu Stoica became head of state of Romania. 50 27 Mar 1965 The first non-stop helicopter flight across the USA (San Diego, California to Jacksonville, Florida). 50 27 Mar 1965 The album Bringing It All Back Home by Bob Dylan was released. Although the album is now widely acclaimed, it alienated many of his fans at the time because his backing band played electric instruments rather than acoustic ones. 50 28 Mar 1965 Death of Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, member of the British Royal Family. Third child and only daughter of King George V. 50 28 Mar 1965 Death of Charles William Train, British WWI soldier, awarded the Victoria Cross. 50 30 Mar 1965 Death of Philip Showalter Hench, American physician. Best known for using cortisone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Joint winner of the 1950 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his work on hormones of the adrenal cortex. 40 1 Mar 1975 All TV stations in Australia began broadcasting in colour. 40 4 Mar 1975 Comedy actor Charlie Chaplin was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. 40 5 Mar 1975 Vietnam War – the Hue–Da Nang Campaign; North Vietnamese victory. (to 2 Apr) 40 5 Mar 1975 The Homebrew Computer Club held its first meeting in Menlo Park, California, USA. It is considered to have started the personal computer revolution. Several notable computer pioneers and entrepreneurs were members, including the founders of Apple. 40 6 Mar 1975 The Algiers Agreement (also known as the Algiers Accord) was signed by Iran and Iraq, settling their border dispute. (The dispute continued and led to the Iran–Iraq War, also called the First Persian Gulf War, in 1980.) 40 6 Mar 1975 The Zapruder film showing the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas in 1963 was shown on national TV in the USA for the first time. 40 7 Mar 1975 Death of Mikhail Bakhtin, Russian literary theorist and philosopher whose ideas influenced Western thinking in cultural history, linguistics, literary theory and aesthetics. 40 8 Mar 1975 Death of George Stevens, Academy Award-winning American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer (A Place in the Sun, Giant, Shane, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Greatest Story Ever Told). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 53 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 9 Mar 1975 Death of Marie Gevers, Belgian novelist and poet, known for her works about the rural area of Kempenland. 40 13 Mar 1975 Death of Ivo Andric, Yugoslav novelist and short story writer. Winner of the 1961 Nobel Prize for Literature. 40 15 Mar 1975 Death of Aristotle Onassis, Greek shipping magnate. 40 16 Mar 1975 Death of T-Bone Walker, influential American blues musician and songwriter. Named one of the greatest guitarists of all time. 40 18 Mar 1975 Death of Alain Grandbois, award-winning French Canadian poet. Known for his unconventional verse forms and experimentation. 40 19 Mar 1975 The film Tommy, a musical based on The Who’s rock opera album Tommy, was released in the USA. (UK: 26th.) 40 21 Mar 1975 The Ethiopian monarchy was abolished after 3,000 years. 40 21 Mar 1975 Death of Sir Ralph Hawtrey, British economist. Best known for developing the multiplier concept. He also influenced the work of the economist J. M. Keynes. 40 25 Mar 1975 Death of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. (Assassinated.) Succeeded by King Khalid. 40 26 Mar 1975 The Biological Weapons Convention came into effect. The multilateral disarmament treaty banned the development, production and stockpiling of all biological and toxin weapons. 40 27 Mar 1975 Death of Sir Arthur Bliss, British composer and conductor. One of the leading composers of his era. 30 1 Mar 1985 Julio María Sanguinetti became President of Uruguay for the first time. (He was President again from 1995 to 2000.) 30 2 Mar 1985 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a screening test for HIV/AIDS, allowing contaminated blood to be excluded from blood transfusions. 30 3 Mar 1985 Santiago earthquake, Chile. 177 people were killed, 2,575 injured and approx 1 million left homeless. 30 3 Mar 1985 British miners voted to return to work after a year-long strike over pit closures and job losses. 30 3 Mar 1985 The first episode of the comedy-drama series Moonlighting was broadcast on ABC TV in the USA. 30 3 Mar 1985 Death of Sarah Gibson Blanding, American educator. The first female president of Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York. 30 4 Mar 1985 The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced stringent limits on lead in petrol (gasoline), which basically amounted to a ban on leaded fuel. The permitted level of lead (1.1 grams per gallon) was cut to 0.5g/gallon from 1st July 1985 and 0.1g/gallon from 1st Jan 1986. 30 7 Mar 1985 The charity single We Are the World by USA for Africa was released to raise money for famine relief. 30 10 Mar 1985 Death of Konstantin Chernenko, Leader of the Soviet Union (1984–85); succeeded by Mikhail Gorbachev. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 54 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 30 12 Mar 1985 Death of Eugene Ormandy, Hungarian-born American conductor and violinist. Best known for his work with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra and his 44 years with the Philadelphia Orchestra. 30 15 Mar 1985 The first .com internet domain name was registered (symbolics.com). 30 16 Mar 1985 American journalist Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for Associated Press, was kidnapped in Beirut, Lebanon. (Released Dec 1991.) 30 16 Mar 1985 Death of Roger Sessions, American composer, critic and educator. 30 18 Mar 1985 The first episode of the TV soap opera Neighbours was broadcast in Australia. 30 21 Mar 1985 Death of Sir Michael Redgrave, British stage and film actor, writer and director. Father of the actresses Vanessa Redgrave and Lynn Redgrave. 30 23 Mar 1985 American singer and musician Billy Joel married supermodel Christie Brinkley. 30 23 Mar 1985 Death of Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching, Chairman of British Railways. Known for his controversial report The Reshaping of British Railways which had far-reaching consequences for the British railway network, including the closure of thousands of miles of track. 30 23 Mar 1985 Death of Patricia Roberts Harris, American public official. The first African American woman to serve as a U.S. ambassador, and the first in the presidential cabinet. 30 28 Mar 1985 Neil Simon’s play Biloxi Blues opened on Broadway. 30 28 Mar 1985 Death of Marc Chagall, important Russian-born French artist, printmaker and designer. 30 29 Mar 1985 Death of Jeanine Deckers, (‘The Singing Nun’ / ‘Sister Smile’), Belgian nun, singer and songwriter. (Suicide.) 30 30 Mar 1985 Christos Sartzetakis became President of Greece. 30 30 Mar 1985 Death of Harold Peary, American radio, film and TV actor, comedian and singer (Fibber McGee and Molly, The Great Gildersleeve, Blondie). 30 31 Mar 1985 The World Wrestling Federation held the first WrestleMania, at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA. 25 1 Mar 1990 Luis Alberto Lacalle became President of Uruguay. 25 1 Mar 1990 Britain tightened up its Official Secrets Act, making it an offence for civil servants, journalists, whistleblowers and current and former members of the security services to disclose information that could damage the country’s defence or overseas interests. The legal plea that the disclosure was ‘in the public interest’ was also outlawed. 25 3 Mar 1990 Death of Gérard Blitz, Belgian entrepreneur. Founder of Club Méditeranée (Club Med) holiday resorts. 25 6 Mar 1990 The fastest flight across the USA. A Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird flew from the west coast to the east coast – a distance of 2,404 miles (3,869 km) – in 67 mins 54 secs. 25 8 Mar 1990 American serial killer Eddie Seda (‘the Copycat Zodiac Killer’) shot his first victim in New York City – the victim survived. (He shot 8 people between 1990 and 1993, 3 of whom died. Sentenced to 83 years in 1998.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 55 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 9 Mar 1990 Antonia Novello became Surgeon General of the United States. She was the first woman and the first Hispanic to serve in this role. 25 11 Mar 1990 Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union. 25 11 Mar 1990 Patricio Aylwin became President of Chile – the first since the restoration of democracy. 25 13 Mar 1990 Ertha Pascal-Trouillot became the first female President of Haiti after Prosper Avril was overthrown. (Interim presidency until December.) 25 13 Mar 1990 Death of Bruno Bettelheim, Austrian-born American psychiatrist and writer. Known for his work in treating emotionally disturbed children. 25 15 Mar 1990 Mikhail Gorbachev became the first (and only) President of the Soviet Union. (Resigned 25th Dec 1991, Soviet Union dissolved 26th Dec 1991.) 25 15 Mar 1990 Fernando Collor de Mello became President of Brazil. (In 1992 he was impeached by the Brazilian Senate after being charged with corruption. He resigned the presidency and was disqualified from holding elected office for 8 years. He was elected as a Senator in 2006.) 25 15 Mar 1990 Death of Tom Harmon, American football player and sports broadcaster. Father of the actor Mark Harmon. 25 16 Mar 1990 Nicholas Braithwaite became Prime Minister of Grenada. 25 17 Mar 1990 The Bastille opera house in Paris, France was officially opened. 25 17 Mar 1990 Death of Capucine, French fashion model and film and television actress (Song Without End, The Pink Panther (and sequels), What’s New Pussycat? and more). 25 18 Mar 1990 East Germany held its first (and only) free parliamentary election – the first genuinely free election since 1933. Sabine Bergmann-Pohl was elected head of state and took office on 5th April until reunification on 3rd Oct.) 25 18 Mar 1990 The largest art theft in U.S. history. 13 pieces worth between $300 million and $500 million in total were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. They included works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Manet and Degas. (None have been recovered to date.) 25 19 Mar 1990 Latvia held its first free parliamentary election for over 50 years. The Popular Front of Latvia won over two-thirds of the vote and claimed victory, but the Supreme Soviet re-elected Anatolijs Gorbunovs of the Communist Party as head of state. (He later resigned but remained as Speaker until 1995. The Communist Party was banned in 1991.) 25 19 Mar 1990 The first International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World (to 25th) Championship was held, in Ottawa, Canada. 25 20 Mar 1990 Imelda Marcos, widow of former Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos, went on trial in New York City, USA for bribery, embezzlement and racketeering. (She was acquitted.) 25 20 Mar 1990 Death of Lev Yashin, Soviet-Russian footballer. Considered the greatest (or 21st?) goalkeeper in the history of the game. 25 21 Mar 1990 Namibia gained its independence from South Africa 25 23 Mar 1990 Death of John Dexter, British stage, film and opera director.

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Ann. Date Event 25 24 Mar 1990 Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke was re-elected for a fourth successive term. 25 24 Mar 1990 Death of Ray Goulding, American comedian. Best known for his comedy partnership with Bob Elliott (Bob and Ray). 25 24 Mar 1990 Death of An Wang, Chinese-born American electrical engineer, inventor and computer pioneer. Founder of Wang Laboratories. Inventor of the magnetic memory core. 25 26 Mar 1990 Death of Halston, American fashion designer. 25 31 Mar 1990 Poll Tax riots in London. 20 1 Mar 1995 Julio María Sanguinetti became President of Uruguay for the second time. (He was also President from 1985 to 1990.) 20 1 Mar 1995 Ukrainian Prime Minister Vitaliy Masol announced his resignation; succeeded by Yevhen Marchuk. 20 1 Mar 1995 Internet search company Yahoo! was founded. 20 1 Mar 1995 Death of Georges J. F. Köhler, German immunologist. Joint winner of the 1984 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for developing a technique for producing monoclonal antibodies. 20 1 Mar 1995 Death of Vladislav Listyev, Russian investigative journalist, game show host and TV executive (ORT – now Channel One). (Assassinated.) 20 2 Mar 1995 The discovery of the top quark was announced by two teams of scientists working at Fermilab in Illinois, USA. 20 2 Mar 1995 British ‘rogue trader’ Nick Leeson was arrested for his role in the collapse of Barings Bank. (See also 6th March below.) 20 3 Mar 1995 The last United Nations peacekeeping troops left Somalia at the end of a two-year operation (UNOSOM II) aimed at creating a secure environment for humanitarian operations to begin. 20 3 Mar 1995 Camilla Parker Bowles and her husband Andrew were divorced. (She married Charles, Prince of Wales in April 2005.) 20 5 Mar 1995 Death of Vivian Stanshall, British rock singer, songwriter, musician, artist, actor, writer and poet. Best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo- Dah Band, the comedy record Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells. 20 6 Mar 1995 Polish Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak resigned; succeeded by Józef Oleksy on 7th. 20 6 Mar 1995 The Dutch bank ING purchased Britain’s oldest merchant bank, Barings PLC, for the nominal price of £1 ($1.60) following its collapse. 20 7 Mar 1995 Death of Paul-Émile Victor, French polar explorer and ethnologist. 20 9 Mar 1995 Queen Elizabeth II made a symbolic visit to Northern Ireland following the IRA ceasefire of 1994. (The IRA bombed London’s Docklands in 1996, but a permanent ceasefire was agreed in 1997.) 20 9 Mar 1995 The Asian American sorority Kappa Phi Lambda was founded at Binghamton University, New York, USA.

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Ann. Date Event 20 9 Mar 1995 Death of Ian Ballantine, innovative American paperback publisher. Founder of Ballantine Books. 20 10 Mar 1995 Costis Stephanopoulos became President of Greece. 20 13 Mar 1995 Death of Leon Day, American baseball player. 20 13 Mar 1995 Death of Odette Hallowes, French-born British WWII heroine, noted for her work with the French Resistance. The only woman to receive the George Cross while still alive. 20 14 Mar 1995 Death of William Alfred Fowler, American nuclear physicist and astrophysicist. Joint winner of the 1983 Nobel Prize for Physics for his studies of how nuclear reactions in stars create heavier chemical elements. 20 16 Mar 1995 Norman Thagard became the first American astronaut to visit Russia’s Mir space station. 20 16 Mar 1995 Death of Albert Hackett, American playwright and screenwriter. Best known for his collaborations with his wife, Frances Goodrich (The Thin Man, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Diary of Anne Frank, and more). 20 17 Mar 1995 Death of Donald Baverstock, British television producer and executive. Director of Programmes at the BBC and Yorkshire TV. He played a key role in the creation of the TV series Doctor Who. 20 17 Mar 1995 Death of Ahmad Khomeini, Iranian political leader. Son of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. 20 17 Mar 1995 Death of Ronnie Kray, British gangster (the Kray twins). 20 20 Mar 1995 A terrorist group released sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo underground in Japan, killing 12 people and injuring thousands. 20 20 Mar 1995 Death of Sidney Kingsley, Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright. Best known for Men in White. 20 22 Mar 1995 Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov returned to Earth after spending 438 days on the Mir space station. This is the current record for the longest single space flight. 20 22 Mar 1995 Death of Peter Woods, British journalist and television newsreader. 20 23 Mar 1995 Death of Alan Barton, British singer (Black Lace, Smokie). Killed when Smokie’s tour bus crashed in Germany. 20 24 Mar 1995 Death of Joseph Needham, British biochemist, sinologist and historian. Best known for his multi-volume work Science and Civilisation in China (still a work-in-progress, led by the Needham Research Institute). 20 25 Mar 1995 Pope John Paul II condemned abortion and euthanasia as crimes that no human laws could legitimise. 20 25 Mar 1995 Death of Warren E. Burger, Chief Justice of United States (1969–86). 20 25 Mar 1995 Death of James Coleman, American sociologist who pioneered mathematical sociology and strongly influenced U.S. education policy. 20 26 Mar 1995 Seven EU nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) eliminated their internal border controls and tightened their external borders.

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Ann. Date Event 20 26 Mar 1995 Death of Eazy-E, American rapper. Considered the godfather of gangsta rap. A founding member of N.W.A. (Died of HIV/AIDS-related illness.) 20 27 Mar 1995 South African President Nelson Mandela dismissed his estranged wife Winnie from her cabinet post for insubordination. 20 31 Mar 1995 Operation Uphold Democracy (the United States Intervention in Haiti) officially ended and was replaced by the United Nations Mission in Haiti. Over 2,000 U.S. troops remained n Haiti in support and peacekeeping roles under UN command. 20 31 Mar 1995 Death of Selena, American singer. (Shot by the founder of her fan club.) 15 1 Mar 2000 The current Constitution of Finland came into effect. 15 10 Mar 2000 The NASDAQ Composite stock index reached its peak during the dot- com boom. By 20th March it had fallen by 10% as the bubble began to burst. (By 2001 scores of online brands had gone out of business after burning through their venture capital without ever making a profit.) 15 12 Mar 2000 Ricardo Lagos became President of Chile. 15 17 Mar 2000 530 members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God died in Kanungu, Uganda. Initially thought to be a mass suicide, but now thought to be a mass murder by cult leaders who may still be alive. Mass deaths were also found at other sites in southern Uganda over the following days, taking the total to around 940. 15 26 Mar 2000 Vladimir Putin was elected President of the Russian Federation. 15 27 Mar 2000 Death of Ian Dury, British punk/new wave singer, songwriter and actor. Best known as the lead singer of Ian Dury and the Blockheads. 15 28 Mar 2000 Death of Anthony Powell, British novelist. Best known for the 12-volume A Dance to the Music of Time. 10 1 Mar 2005 The U.S. Supreme Court abolished the death penalty for criminals who were under 18 years old at the time of committing their offence. 10 2 Mar 2005 Death of Martin Denny, American pianist and composer. Known as the father of exotica (a musical impression of the South Pacific, which combines jazz with jungle sounds and Polynesian/Hawaiian rhythms and instruments). 10 3 Mar 2005 The Mayerthorpe tragedy, Alberta, Canada. 4 Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers were shot and killed by a criminal (James Roszko) when they raided his property. Roszko then killed himself. This was the RCMP’s worst one-day loss of life since the North-West Rebellion of 1885. 10 3 Mar 2005 American businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett made the first solo flight around the world without landing or refuelling. 10 3 Mar 2005 Death of Rinus Michels, Dutch football player and coach. Creator of ‘total football’. Named ‘coach of the century’. 10 6 Mar 2005 Death of Hans Bethe, German-born American theoretical physicist and educator who made important contributions to quantum physics, nuclear physics, solid-state physics and astrophysics. Winner of the 1967 Nobel Prize for Physics for his work on energy production in stars. 10 6 Mar 2005 Death of Tommy Vance, British radio DJ who championed hard rock and heavy metal. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 59 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 6 Mar 2005 Death of Teresa Wright, Academy Award-winning American stage, film and television actress (The Little Foxes, The Pride of the Yankees, Mrs. Miniver, Shadow of a Doubt, The Best Years of Our Lives, The Men). 10 7 Mar 2005 Death of Debra Hill, American screenwriter and film producer. Co-writer (with John Carpenter) of Halloween, Halloween II, The Fog and Escape from LA. 10 8 Mar 2005 Death of Aslan Maskhadov, President of Chechnya (1997–2005). Killed during a raid by Russian forces. 10 9 Mar 2005 American TV news anchorman Dan Rather presented his last CBS Evening News, which he had anchored for 24 years. He was succeeded by Bob Schieffer until August 2006, and then by Katie Couric. 10 10 Mar 2005 The first Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Tung Chee Hwa, announced his resignation after widespread protests over his poor governance. He was succeeded by Donald Tsang. 10 10 Mar 2005 Death of Dave Allen, Irish comedian. 10 14 Mar 2005 Cedar Revolution, Lebanon. A series of massive demonstrations were held (particularly in Beirut) to demand the withdrawal of Syrian troops, following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (Syrian troops withdrew on 27th April.) 10 15 Mar 2005 Bernard Ebbers, the former CEO of WorldCom, was convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy. On 13th July he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He is regarded as one of the most corrupt CEOs in U.S. history. 10 15 Mar 2005 Death of Bob Bellear, the first Indigenous Australian judge. 10 16 Mar 2005 A Los Angeles jury acquitted American actor Robert Blake of murdering his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley. (On 18th November a civil jury found him liable for her death and ordered him to pay $30 million.) 10 17 Mar 2005 Death of George F. Kennan, American diplomat, adviser and historian. Best known for successfully advocating a containment policy to prevent the spread of communism during the Cold War. 10 17 Mar 2005 Death of Andre Norton, American science fiction and fantasy novelist. 10 19 Mar 2005 Death of John DeLorean, American motor vehicle engineer and executive. Developed the Pontiac GTO, Firebird and Grand Prix and the Chevrolet Vega for General Motors. Founded the DeLorean Motor Company. Career tainted by drug trafficking and financial scandals. 10 20 Mar 2005 Death of Armand Lohikoski, Finnish director 10 21 Mar 2005 Red Lake Senior High School shooting, Minnesota, USA (also known as the Red Lake massacre). A former student shot and killed 9 people (including 5 students) and wounded 5 others before committing suicide. 10 21 Mar 2005 Death of Barney Martin, American film and television actor. Best known for his role as Jerry’s father Morty in the sitcom Seinfeld. 10 21 Mar 2005 Death of Bobby Short, American cabaret singer and pianist. Known for his sophisticated and elegant style and for championing African American composers.

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Ann. Date Event 10 22 Mar 2005 Death of Kenzo Tange, award-winning Japanese architect. One of the most important architects of the 20th century. Known for combining traditional Japanese styles with Modernism. 10 24 Mar 2005 The Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) hand-held games console was released in North America. (Japan: 12th Dec 2004; Europe: 1st Sept 2005.) 10 25 Mar 2005 Death of Paul Henning, American television producer and screenwriter. Best known for creating the sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. 10 26 Mar 2005 The British science fiction TV series Doctor Who returned after a 16-year break. 10 26 Mar 2005 Death of James Callaghan, British Prime Minister (1976–79). 10 26 Mar 2005 Death of Paul Hester, Australian drummer (Split Enz, Crowded House). (Suicide.) 10 27 Mar 2005 Death of Grant Johannesen, American concert pianist and educator. 10 27 Mar 2005 Death of Ahmed Zaki, Egyptian film actor. Best known for portraying historical figures. Regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Arabian cinema. 10 28 Mar 2005 Sumatra earthquake. About 1,300 were killed, mostly on the island of Nias where there was extensive damage. 10 29 Mar 2005 Death of Johnnie Cochran, American lawyer. Best known for his successful defence of the football star and actor O. J. Simpson in his 1994 double murder trial. 10 30 Mar 2005 Death of Robert Creeley, American poet. Founder of the Black Mountain movement. 10 30 Mar 2005 Death of O. V. Vijayan, Indian writer and cartoonist. A leading figure in (or 29th?) Malayalam literature. 10 31 Mar 2005 Death of Frank Perdue, American chicken farm executive. President and CEO of Perdue Farms. 10 31 Mar 2005 Death of Terri Schiavo, American brain damage victim who was the subject of a lengthy legal battle between her husband and parents over her right to die.

APRIL 2015

Ann. Date Event 700 30 Apr 1315 Death of Enguerrand de Marigny, French chamberlain to King Philip IV. (or 11th?) (Executed.) 600 15 Apr 1415 Death of Manuel Chrysoloras, Greek scholar and humanist who pioneered the introduction of Greek literature to Western Europe. 500 1 Apr 1515 Afonso de Albuquerque’s Portuguese forces recaptured and occupied Ormuz in the Persian Gulf (now Hormuz Island in Iran). The Portuguese held it until 1622. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 61 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 300 14 Apr 1715 The Yamasee War, colonial South Carolina – a conflict between British (to 1717) settlers and various Native American tribes. Colonial government victory. 300 20 Apr 1715 Nicholas Rowe’s play The Tragedy of Lady Jane Gray was performed for the first time, in London. 250 5 Apr 1765 Death of Edward Young, English poet. Best known for Night Thoughts. 250 15 Apr 1765 Death of Mikhail Lomonosov, Russian scientist, polymath, writer and poet who made substantial contributions to science, literature and education, and discovered the atmosphere of Venus. Considered the first great Russian linguistic reformer. 250 26 Apr 1765 Birth of Emma, Lady Hamilton, British mistress of Lord Nelson. ? (Date of birth is uncertain. Baptised 12th May 1765. Britannica gives her year of birth as c1761, but this appears to be incorrect.) 200 1 Apr 1815 Birth of Otto von Bismarck, Prime Minister of Prussia (1862–73, 1873–90). Founder and first Chancellor of the German Empire (1871–90). 200 5 Apr 1815 Mount Tambora volcano in Indonesia began erupting, with the main (to July) eruption beginning on 10th April. It was one of the most powerful eruptions ever recorded. Ash in the atmosphere lowered global temperatures for two years and 1816 was known as the Year Without a Summer. More than 71,000 people died. 200 24 Apr 1815 The Second Serbian Uprising. A national uprising following the Ottoman (to 26 Jul Empire’s re-annexation of Serbia in 1813. Serbian victory, resulting in 1817) Serbia becoming an autonomous principality. 200 24 Apr 1815 Birth of Anthony Trollope, British novelist. Best known for the Chronicles of Barsetshire series. 175 2 Apr 1840 Birth of Émile Zola, French novelist, critic and political activist. The most prominent French novelist of the late 19th century. Known for his theories of naturalism. 175 27 Apr 1840 The foundation stone for the new Palace of Westminster in London was laid and construction work began. (Construction continued until 1870, although it was used from 1847 when the House of Lords was completed. The old palace had burned down in 1834 when a stove overheated.) 175 27 Apr 1840 Birth of Edward Whymper, British artist and mountaineer. The first man to climb the Matterhorn. 150 1 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Five Forks (Virginia); Union victory. 150 1 Apr 1865 Birth of Richard Zsigmondy, Austrian chemist. Inventor of the ultramicroscope. Winner of the 1925 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his research on colloids. 150 1 Apr 1865 Death of Giuditta Pasta, acclaimed Italian operatic soprano. One of the greatest opera singers of all time. 150 2 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Selma (Alabama); Union victory. 150 2 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Mobile Campaign – the Battle of Fort Blakely (to 9th) (Alabama); Union victory. 150 2 Apr 1865 Death of Richard Cobden, British politician, co-founder of the Anti-Corn Law League. Known for his successful fight to have the Corn Laws repealed, and for his support of free trade. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 62 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 2 Apr 1865 Death of A. P. Hill, Confederate general in the American Civil War. Commander of the Light Division. He played a prominent role in the Battle of Gettysburg. (Killed during the Third Battle of Petersburg.) 150 3 Apr 1865 American Civil War: Union forces captured the cities of Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia. (Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy.) 150 3 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Namozine Church (Virginia); result inconclusive. 150 5 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Amelia Springs (Virginia); result inconclusive. 150 5 Apr 1865 Birth of Lincoln Filene, American businessman and philanthropist. Chairman of Filene’s department store and the Federated Department Stores chain (now Macy’s). 150 6 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Sailor’s Creek (Virginia); Union victory. (Also known as the Battle of Sayler’s Creek, Hillsman Farm or Lockett Farm.) 150 7 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Cumberland Church (Virginia); Confederate victory. 150 9 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Appomattox Court House (Virginia); Union victory. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered and the Army of Northern Virginia was dismissed. This was one of the final battles of the war and the end of the war in Virginia. 150 9 Apr 1865 Birth of Erich Ludendorff, Prussian-born general who was responsible for Germany’s military policy and strategy during the second half of WWI. 150 9 Apr 1865 Birth of Charles Proteus Steinmetz, German-born American electrical engineer and mathematician whose ideas on alternating current led to the massive expansion of the electrical power industry in the USA. 150 10 Apr 1865 Birth of Jack Miner, American-born Canadian naturalist and writer. Best known for his work on bird conservation and migratory patterns. 150 12 Apr 1865 American Civil War: Union forces occupied the city of Mobile, Alabama. 150 13 Apr 1865 American Civil War: Union forces captured the city of Raleigh, North Carolina. 150 14 Apr 1865 The U.S. Secret Service was created by President Abraham Lincoln in one of his final acts before his assassination – he was shot that evening. (The Secret Service began operating on 5th July as a division of the Department of the Treasury, tasked with suppressing counterfeiting. In 2003 it became part of the Department of Homeland Security.)

150 15 Apr 1865 Death of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States. (Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater, Washington D.C.). Succeeded by Andrew Johnson. (See 26th below.) 150 16 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Columbus (Georgia); Union victory. Also known as the Battle of Girard (Alabama). 150 16 Apr 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of West Point (Georgia); Union victory.

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Ann. Date Event 150 24 Apr 1865 The first complete fire alarm and police telegraph system in the USA went into operation in San Francisco, California. In the same month, a police telegraph system was installed in the headquarters of the St. Louis Police Department in Missouri. (New York City’s fire alarm system went into operation on 15th November.) 150 25 Apr 1865 American Civil War: the Siege of Petersburg (Virginia) ended after 9 months; Union victory. 150 26 Apr 1865 American Civil War: all Confederate forces in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida surrendered. 150 26 Apr 1865 Death of John Wilkes Booth, American stage actor and Confederate sympathiser who assassinated U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. (Shot dead by federal troops.) 150 27 Apr 1865 The Mississippi River steamboat SS Sultana exploded and sank near Marion, Arkansas, killing about 1,800 people. Many of the casualties were Union soldiers who had just been released from Confederate prison camps. It was the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history. 150 27 Apr 1865 Cornell University was founded in Ithaca, New York, USA.

150 28 Apr 1865 Death of Sir Samuel Cunard, 1st Baronet, Canadian-born British shipping magnate who founded the British and North American Royal Mail Steam- Packet Company (now the Cunard Line). 150 30 Apr 1865 Death of Robert Fitzroy, British naval officer and pioneering meteorologist. Captain of HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin’s famous voyage which provided much of the material for his theory of evolution. 125 6 Apr 1890 Birth of Anthony Fokker, pioneering Dutch aircraft manufacturer who produced fighter aircraft in Germany during WWI. 125 7 Apr 1890 Birth of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, American writer and environmentalist, known for her defence of the Florida Everglades. 125 11 Apr 1890 Death of Joseph Merrick, (‘The Elephant Man’), British man with severe deformities. 125 14 Apr 1890 The International Bureau of American Republics was founded. It was a forerunner of the Organization of American States, founded in April 1948. 125 18 Apr 1890 The U.S. Government assumed control of immigration and designated Ellis Island in Upper New York Bay as the country’s first federal immigration station. (It opened on 1st Jan 1892.) 125 24 Apr 1890 The General Federation of Women’s Clubs was founded in the USA. 100 1 Apr 1915 Birth of O. W. Fischer, award-winning Austrian-born German film actor. Played the leading role in many German films. 100 3 Apr 1915 Birth of Paul Touvier, French war criminal and Nazi collaborator. The only Frenchman ever convicted of crimes against humanity. 100 4 Apr 1915 Birth of Lars Ahlin, award-winning Swedish novelist. 100 4 Apr 1915 Birth of Muddy Waters, American blues guitarist and singer who had a (or 1913?) major influence on modern rhythm and blues. Known as ‘the father of modern Chicago blues’.

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Ann. Date Event 100 4 Apr 1915 Death of Andrew Stoddart, British cricketer and rugby player. Captained the England cricket team, helped organise the first British Lions rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand, and was a founding member and first captain of the Barbarians. (Suicide.) 100 5 Apr 1915 World War I – the First Battle of Woëvre (France); German victory. (to 5 May) 100 7 Apr 1915 Birth of Billie Holiday, (‘Lady Day’), American jazz singer and songwriter. 100 10 Apr 1915 Birth of Harry Morgan, American film and television actor, best known for his role as Colonel Sherman T. Potter in the TV series M*A*S*H. 100 12 Apr 1915 The Charlie Chaplin film The Tramp was released. 100 16 Apr 1915 Death of Nelson W. Aldrich, prominent American politician. Senator from Rhode Island. Helped prepare the way for the 1913 Federal Reserve Act. 100 18 Apr 1915 World War I: French aviation pioneer Roland Garros, who had joined the French Army as a fighter pilot at the outbreak of the war, landed in Germany after his plane was either shot down or the fuel line clogged. (He was held as a prisoner of war until Feb 1918 when he escaped and rejoined the French Army, but he was shot down and killed in October.) 100 20 Apr 1915 Birth of Joseph Wolpe, South African-born American psychotherapist. One of the most influential figures in Behaviour Therapy. Devised a treatment to desensitise patients suffering from phobias and post- traumatic stress disorder, and helped develop assertiveness training. 100 21 Apr 1915 World War I – the Second Battle of Ypres (Belgium); result stalemate. (to 25 May) 100 21 Apr 1915 Birth of Werner Groebli, (‘Frick’), Swiss ice skater and comedian/clown. Known for his slapstick comedy routines with skating partner ‘Frack’ (Hansruedi Mauch) as part of the Ice Follies show (now Holiday on Ice). 100 21 Apr 1915 Birth of Anthony Quinn, Academy Award-winning Mexican-born American stage and film actor, artist and sculptor (Zorba the Greek, Viva Zapata!, Lust for Life, The Guns of Navarone, Lawrence of Arabia, and more). 100 22 Apr 1915 World War I: Germany launched its first major poison gas attack against the Allies, firing 150 tons of chlorine gas at two French divisions at the Second Battle of Ypres (Belgium). (See 21st April above.) 100 23 Apr 1915 Birth of Sir Arnold Alexander Hall, British aeronautical engineer and industrialist. Chairman of the Hawker Siddeley Group (1967–86). He led a team that discovered the cause of jet aircraft crashes and designed corrections to the flaws that caused them. He also pioneered wreckage reconstruction. 100 23 Apr 1915 Death of Rupert Brooke, British poet. Best known for his WWI wartime sonnets, especially his 1914 sequence. (Died from an infected mosquito bite while travelling to take part in the Battle of Gallipoli.) 100 24 Apr 1915 The Armenian Genocide (the Ottoman Empire’s attempt to eliminate its entire population of Armenians) began. Up to 1.5 million people were killed and at least 2 million were deported – often by long-distance forced marches without food or water.

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Ann. Date Event 100 25 Apr 1915 World War I – the Gallipoli Campaign, Ottoman Empire; Ottoman (to 9 Jan victory. The first operation was the landing at Cape Helles, which was 1916) badly mismanaged by the British commander and became a bloodbath. The battles that followed were costly and the Allies never managed to achieve their objectives. 100 25 Apr 1915 ANZAC Day – held annually to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand armed forces who served, died or suffered in war, conflict or peacekeeping operations. The first ANZAC Day was to held to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought in the Battle of Gallipoli – see above. 100 26 Apr 1915 World War I: the Treaty of London was signed. It was a secret pact between the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia) and Italy. Italy agreed to leave the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy), join the Triple Entente, and declare war on its former allies. 100 27 Apr 1915 Death of Alexander Scriabin, Russian composer and pianist. 100 29 Apr 1915 World War I: a German Zeppelin bombed Ipswich, England, causing a (to 30th) small amount of damage. 100 29 Apr 1915 Birth of Donald Mills, American singer (the Mills Brothers). 90 1 Apr 1925 Danmarks Radio (now DR), the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, was founded. 90 1 Apr 1925 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem was officially opened in Israel. 90 2 Apr 1925 Birth of George MacDonald Fraser, British historical novelist, short story writer and screenwriter. Best known for the Flashman series of novels. (Died 2008.) 90 10 Apr 1925 The city of Tsaritsyn in Russia was renamed Stalingrad. (It was renamed Volgograd in 1961. Campaigners are now trying to get the name changed back to Stalingrad.) 90 10 Apr 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby was published. 90 14 Apr 1925 Birth of Rod Steiger, Academy Award-winning American stage, film and television actor (On the Waterfront, Oklahoma!, Doctor Zhivago, In the Heat of the Night, and more). (Died 2002.) 90 17 Apr 1925 Paul Painlevé became Prime Minister of France (for the second time) after Édouard Herriot’s government collapsed. 90 22 Apr 1925 Birth of Aaron Spelling, Emmy Award-winning American film and television producer. The leading TV producer of his era (Charlie’s Angels, T. J. Hooker, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Charmed, and more). 90 26 Apr 1925 Paul von Hindenburg was elected President of Germany (took office 12th May). 80 2 Apr 1935 British radio engineer Robert Watson-Watt was granted a patent for his radar system. 80 5 Apr 1935 Birth of Peter Grant, British rock band manager and record company executive (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, and others). (Died 1995.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 66 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 6 Apr 1935 Death of Edwin Arlington Robinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet. 80 8 Apr 1935 New Deal: the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established in the USA to relieve the economic hardship of the Great Depression. 80 10 Apr 1935 Vaughan Williams’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor was performed for the first time, by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London. 80 11 Apr 1935 Birth of Richard Berry, American doo-wop/R&B singer, songwriter and musician. Best known for the song Louie, Louie. (Died 1997.) 80 12 Apr 1935 First flight of the Bristol Blenheim bomber, at Filton, Bristol, UK. This plane was used extensively in the early part of WWII. 80 14 Apr 1935 Black Sunday – the worst dust storm of the Dust Bowl occurred in Kansas, USA. 80 14 Apr 1935 Death of Emmy Noether, influential German mathematician. Known for her contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics. 80 15 Apr 1935 The Roerich Pact was signed in Washington D.C., USA with the intention of preserving cultural objects, institutions and monuments during military action. (Effective from 26th Aug. It was the first international treaty to be signed in the Oval Office of the White House.) 80 16 Apr 1935 The first episode of the popular comedy series Fibber McGee and Molly was broadcast on NBC radio in the USA. (It ran until 1959.) 80 17 Apr 1935 Sun Myung Moon (aged 15) claimed that Jesus appeared before him and asked him to complete the work he left unfinished when he was crucified – specifically his failure to marry. (Moon founded the Unification Church – known for its mass blessing ceremonies – in South Korea in May 1954) 80 19 Apr 1935 Birth of Dudley Moore, British actor, comedian, musician and composer. Best known for the films 10 and Arthur and for his comedy partnership with Peter Cook (Pete and Dud). (Died 2002.) 80 20 Apr 1935 The first episode of the popular music show Your Hit Parade was broadcast on NBC radio in the USA. (It ran until 1955, and also ran on TV from 1950 to 1959.) 80 21 Apr 1935 King Boris of Bulgaria banned all opposition political parties and ruled the country himself until 1943 via puppet prime ministers. 80 24 Apr 1935 Nazi Germany ordered all publishers and newspaper editors to prove their own and their spouses’ Aryan descent dating back to 1800. 80 25 Apr 1935 The Oregon State Capitol building in Salem, Oregon, USA was destroyed by fire. 80 27 Apr 1935 The Brussels International Exposition (World’s Fair) was held in Belgium. (to 6 Nov) 20 million visitors attended. The theme was colonisation. 80 28 Apr 1935 Death of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Scottish composer, conductor and teacher who helped revive British music in the late 19th century. 80 29 Apr 1935 Death of Leroy Carr, popular American blues singer, songwriter and pianist who influenced artists including Nat King Cole and Ray Charles.

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Ann. Date Event 75 7 Apr 1940 The U.S. Post Office Department issued the first postage stamp to feature an African American (educator Booker T. Washington) as part of its Famous Americans series. 75 9 Apr 1940 World War II: Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. 75 9 Apr 1940 Vidkun Quisling declared himself Prime Minister of Norway and established a new Nazi-backed government. (By 15th April he had been forced out of power as King Haakon VII refused to recognise him as leader and the Nazis retracted their support. He was branded a traitor. However, he became Minister President of Norway in 1942.) 75 9 Apr 1940 World War II – the Battles of Narvik (Norway); German victory which (to 8 Jun) enabled them to consolidate their hold on Norway. 75 9 Apr 1940 Death of Mrs. Patrick Campbell, British stage and film actress. 75 13 Apr 1940 Birth of Mike Beuttler, British Formula One racing driver. (Died 1988.) 75 14 Apr 1940 World War II – the Namsos Campaign (Norway); German victory. (to 4 May) One of the first significant WWII campaigns in which British and French land forces fought against the German Army. But they were outflanked and came under attack from air and sea as they evacuated to Scapa Flow. 75 17 Apr 1940 Birth of Billy Fury, British pop/rock and roll/ballad singer and actor. (Died 1983.) 75 18 Apr 1940 Death of Herbert Fisher, British historian, educator and politician. President of the Board of Education (1916–22). 75 20 Apr 1940 RCA gave the first public demonstration of a scanning electron microscope, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 75 21 Apr 1940 The first episode of the quiz show Take It or Leave It was broadcast on CBS radio in the USA. (It was renamed The $64 Question in 1950. The TV series The $64,000 Question was launched in June 1955.) 75 26 Apr 1940 Death of Carl Bosch, German industrial chemist and engineer. President of IG Farben. Developed the Haber-Bosch process to synthesise ammonia. Joint winner of the 1931 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his work on high-pressure chemistry. 75 27 Apr 1940 Holocaust: Nazi SS leader Heinrich Himmler ordered the construction of Auschwitz Concentration Camp. 75 29 Apr 1940 King Haakon VII of Norway and his government were evacuated to Tromsø in northern Norway. (They established a temporary capital there on 1st May. On 7th June they left Norway and went into exile in London.) 70 1 Apr 1945 World War II – the Battle of Okinawa, Japan (also known as Operation (to 22 Jun) Iceberg). The largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War; Allied victory. U.S. forces occupied Okinawa until 1972. 70 2 Apr 1945 World War II – the Vienna Offensive (Austria); Soviet victory. (to 13th) The Austrian capital was captured from the Germans after an 11-day siege. The Soviet Red Army then pushed further on into Austria. 70 2 Apr 1945 The Soviet Union and Brazil established diplomatic relations. 70 4 Apr 1945 Holocaust: Ohrdruf concentration camp in Germany was liberated by U.S. forces. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 68 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 70 4 Apr 1945 World War II: the Soviet Red Army expelled the last German forces from Hungary, and the country was liberated. (This paved the way for the Soviet occupation of Hungary, and it became a Communist country and part of the Eastern Bloc until 1989.) 70 6 Apr 1945 World War II: the Spring Offensive in Italy; Allied victory. (to 2 May) All German forces in Italy surrendered. 70 6 Apr 1945 World War II: the liberation of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. 70 7 Apr 1945 The Japanese Prime Minister Kuniaki Koiso resigned. He was succeeded

70 7 Apr 1945 World War II: the Japanese battleship Yamato was sunk by U.S. bombers near Okinawa. The Yamato and sister ship Musashi (sunk Oct 1944) were the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever constructed. 70 9 Apr 1945 World War II – the Battle of Königsberg (Germany) ended; Soviet victory. (The battle began in January. Königsberg is now Kaliningrad in Russia.) 70 9 Apr 1945 The German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer was sunk by the British RAF during an air raid on Kiel harbour, Germany. The Admiral Scheer was one of Germany’s most successful ships of WWII in terms of the number of ships it sank or captured. 70 11 Apr 1945 Holocaust: Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany was liberated by U.S. Forces. 70 12 Apr 1945 Holocaust: Westerbork transit camp in the Netherlands was liberated by Canadian troops. (Anne Frank was an inmate at this camp in Aug–Sept 1944 before being transferred to Bergen-Belsen.) 70 12 Apr 1945 Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States (1933–45); succeeded by Vice-President Harry S. Truman who pledged to continue Roosevelt’s WWII policies for war and peace. 70 13 Apr 1945 Holocaust: the Gardelegen massacre, Germany. Over 1,000 prisoners who had been transported from the Mittelbau-Dora labour camp (part of Buchenwald concentration camp) were forced into a barn which was barricaded and set on fire. Those who tried to escape were shot. 70 15 Apr 1945 Holocaust: Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany was liberated by British and Canadian troops. 70 16 Apr 1945 World War II – the Battle of Berlin, Germany; Soviet victory resulting in (to 2 May) the surrender of German forces in the city, Hitler’s suicide, and the end of WWII in Europe on 8th May. 70 16 Apr 1945 World War II – the Battle of Nuremberg, Germany; Allied victory. This (to 20th) was a major loss for Germany as Nuremberg was one of the main centres of the Nazi regime. The 4-day battle devastated the city. 70 16 Apr 1945 World War II: U.S. forces liberated Colditz Castle in Germany (officially known as Oflag IV-C), a high-security prisoner-of-war camp for officers. 70 16 Apr 1945 World War II: the German transport ship MV Goya was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine and sank in the Baltic Sea. The overcrowded ship was carrying about 7,000 wounded troops and civilians fleeing from the advancing Soviet forces, of whom only 183 survived. This was one of the biggest maritime losses in history. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 69 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 70 18 Apr 1945 World War II: nearly 1,000 Allied bombers attacked the German island of Heligoland in the North Sea, completely destroying the town. All survivors were evacuated the following day. (From 1945 to 1952 the British used it as a bombing range. It was then handed back to Germany.) 70 18 Apr 1945 The Soviet Union and Bolivia established diplomatic relations. 70 18 Apr 1945 Death of Ernie Pyle, American journalist, killed by Japanese gunfire while working as a war correspondent during the Battle of Okinawa. 70 19 Apr 1945 The Soviet Union and Guatemala established diplomatic relations. 70 19 Apr 1945 The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel opened on Broadway. 70 20 Apr 1945 World War II: Soviet forces captured the headquarters of the Supreme High Command of the German Army at Zossen near Berlin. (It was then used as the headquarters of the Soviet forces in Germany until 1994.) 70 21 Apr 1945 World War II – the Battle of Bautzen (Germany); a local victory for (to 30th) Germany, which allowed troops and refugees to escape to the west and surrender to the Allies. This was one of the last battles of the Eastern Front, one of Germany’s last successful tank battles, and one of Poland’s bloodiest battles of the war, though it had little impact on the war overall. 70 21 Apr 1945 World War II: the city of Stuttgart in Germany was captured by French forces who continued to occupy it until 1946 (the Stuttgart Crisis) when it was handed over to U.S. Control. 70 22 Apr 1945 Holocaust: Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany was liberated by Soviet and Polish forces. 70 22 Apr 1945 Holocaust: 600 prisoners at the Jasenovac concentration camp in Croatia revolted. 520 were killed, 80 escaped. Following the revolt, all remaining prisoners were killed, the buildings were destroyed, and the camp was abandoned. 70 23 Apr 1945 Holocaust: Flossenbürg concentration camp in Germany was liberated by U.S. Forces. 70 25 Apr 1945 World War II: Elbe Day. An important milestone near the end of the war in Europe. U.S. forces advancing from the west and Soviet forces advancing from the east met at the River Elbe, effectively cutting Nazi Germany in two. 70 25 Apr 1945 World War II – the Lapland War ended in Finland; Finnish victory. The last German forces retreated into Norway on 27th April, which is now celebrated in Finland as National Veterans’ Day. 70 25 Apr 1945 World War II: the Italian cities of Milan and Turin were liberated from the Nazis. This day is now celebrated in Italy as Liberation Day. 70 25 Apr 1945 The United Nations Conference on International Organization (UNCIO) (to 26 Jun) was held in San Francisco, California, USA. Representatives from 50 nations met to create the United Nations Charter. 70 26 Apr 1945 World War II – the Burma Campaign – the Japanese army abandoned their Burmese headquarters in Rangoon. 70 28 Apr 1945 Death of Benito Mussolini, (‘Il Duce’), Italian Prime Minister/fascist dictator (1922–43), and his mistress Clara Petacci. (Executed by partisans.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 70 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 70 29 Apr 1945 World War II: German forces in Italy signed a surrender agreement (effective from 2nd May). 70 29 Apr 1945 Holocaust: Dachau concentration camp in Germany was liberated by U.S. forces. 70 29 Apr 1945 World War II – Operation Manna (Netherlands). The British RAF dropped (to 7 May) thousands of tons of food into German-occupied Netherlands to help feed starving civilians. (The U.S. Air Force also took part – Operation Chowhound. Both operations proved insufficient and were supplemented by Operation Faust, in which 1,000 tons of food per day were sent by truck from the non-occupied section of the Netherlands.) 70 29 Apr 1945 German dictator Adolf Hitler married his long-term partner Eva Braun in his Berlin bunker. (They both committed suicide the following day.) 70 30 Apr 1945 World War II: the Nazi Party’s official newspaper Völkischer Beobachter (People’s Observer) ceased publication. The final issue was printed on this date but was not distributed to readers. 70 30 Apr 1945 Birth of Michael J. Smith, American astronaut. Pilot of the space shuttle Challenger which exploded in 1986. 70 30 Apr 1945 Death of Adolf Hitler, Austrian-born German Nazi Party leader, Chancellor (1933–45) and dictator (1934–45). (Suicide, along with his wife Eva Braun.) He was succeeded as President of Germany by Karl Dönitz (also spelled Doenitz). 65 8 Apr 1950 India and Pakistan signed the Delhi Pact (also called the Liaquat-Nehru Pact), which called for a peaceful resolution to difficulties, and protected the rights of minorities. 65 8 Apr 1950 Death of Vaslav Nijinsky, legendary Russian ballet dancer and choreographer whose career was ended by schizophrenia. 60 1 Apr 1955 EOKA rebellion, Cyprus. (to Dec EOKA, a Greek-Cypriot nationalist paramilitary group launched a 1959) campaign of violence against British targets in Cyprus, demanding an end to British rule. (Cyprus gained its independence in August 1960.) 60 5 Apr 1955 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced his retirement. He was succeeded by Anthony Eden on 7th April. 60 5 Apr 1955 The UK joined the Baghdad Pact, a defensive organisation whose main purpose was to prevent communist incursions and to foster peace in the Middle East. (Other members included Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan and Iran. It was renamed the Central Treaty Organisation [CENTO] in 1959 when Iraq withdrew. It was dissolved in 1979.) 60 7 Apr 1955 Death of Theda Bara, (‘The Vamp’), American stage and silent film actress. One of cinema’s first sex symbols. 60 10 Apr 1955 British nightclub hostess Ruth Ellis shot and killed her lover David Blakely. (On 13th July she was hanged at Holloway Prison – the last woman to be executed in the UK.) 60 10 Apr 1955 Death of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, French philosopher, palaeontologist and theologian. Known for his theory of the Omega Point – the maximum level of complexity and consciousness that the universe (and mankind) is evolving towards. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 71 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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60 11 Apr 1955 A bomb exploded on the Air India plane Kashmir Princess and it crashed in the South China Sea killing 16 people. This was a failed assassination attempt on the Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai, who missed the flight as he was having an emergency appendectomy. (Some commentators say he did not have an appendectomy but deliberately delayed his flight by 3 days as he knew about the plot to kill him.) 60 12 Apr 1955 American virologist Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was publicly announced, following extensive testing that had found it safe and effective. 60 15 Apr 1955 American fast-food pioneer Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald’s franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois. 60 15 Apr 1955 Birth of Dodi Fayed, Egyptian businessman and film producer. Son of (or 1956?) Harrods department store owner Mohamed Al-Fayed. (Killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997, along with Diana, Princess of Wales.) 60 18 Apr 1955 The first Asian-African Conference (also known as the Bandung (to 24th) Conference) was held in Bandung, Indonesia. 60 18 Apr 1955 The first ‘Walk/Don’t Walk’ street crossing signals were installed at intersections in New York City, USA. 60 18 Apr 1955 Death of Albert Einstein, German-born American theoretical physicist. Considered the most influential physicist of the 20th century. Known for developing the special and general theories of relativity. Winner of the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics for his services to physics and his work on the photoelectric effect. 60 25 Apr 1955 Death of Constance Collier, popular British stage and film actress and award-winning voice/acting coach. 60 30 Apr 1955 The State Bank of India was established when the Imperial Bank of India (the oldest and largest commercial bank in India) was nationalised. 50 1 Apr 1965 Death of Henry (‘Harry’) Crerar, Canada’s leading field commander in WWII. 50 1 Apr 1965 Death of Helena Rubinstein, Polish-born American businesswoman who founded the Helena Rubinstein cosmetics company. One of the richest women in the world. 50 6 Apr 1965 Intelsat I (also known as Early Bird) was launched. It was the first communications satellite to be placed into geosynchronous orbit. (Active for 4 years, handling TV, phone and fax transmissions. Still in orbit.) 50 9 Apr 1965 The Houston Astrodome (now the Reliant Astrodome) opened in Texas, USA. (It was originally called the Harris County Domed Stadium.)

50 9 Apr 1965 The Beatles’ hit single Ticket to Ride was released in UK. (USA: 19th April.) 50 11 Apr 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, American Midwest. (to 12th) 47 tornadoes hit 6 U.S. states, killing 271 people and injuring 1,500. 50 12 Apr 1965 American folk-rock band The Byrds released their first single Mr. Tambourine Man. 50 14 Apr 1965 Jo Cals became Prime Minister of the Netherlands, succeeding Victor Marijnen who resigned in February when his cabinet collapsed over a broadcasting issue.

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Ann. Date Event 50 18 Apr 1965 Death of Guillermo González Camarena, Mexican engineer who invented the colour-wheel television system, which made it easy to adapt existing black-and-white systems to colour. 50 21 Apr 1965 The 1964/65 New York World’s Fair opened for its second season. (to 17 Oct) 50 21 Apr 1965 Death of Sir Edward Victor Appleton, British physicist and educator. Winner of the 1947 Nobel Prize for Physics for discovering the Appleton layer of the ionosphere, which reflects radio waves and is useful in communication. 50 23 Apr 1965 The Soviet Union launched its first successful communications satellite Molniya-1 (used for military communications). 50 24 Apr 1965 Dominican Civil War, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (to 3 Sept) CEFA/U.S. Victory. 50 27 Apr 1965 Death of Edward R. Murrow, American broadcast journalist. Highly influential and esteemed. Considered one of journalism’s greatest figures. 50 28 Apr 1965 Dominican Civil War – Operation Powerpack. (to 1 Jul U.S. military forces occupied the Dominican Republic during the civil war 1966) in order to prevent a communist coup. 50 29 Apr 1965 Olympia earthquake, Puget Sound, Washington, USA. 7 people were killed (4 from heart attacks) and there was minor damage that cost about $12.5 million to repair. 40 3 Apr 1975 Soviet chess player Anatoly Karpov became world champion after the reigning champion Bobby Fischer of the USA refused to adhere to FIDE rules and resigned his title. 40 3 Apr 1975 Death of Mary Ure, Scottish stage and film actress (Sons and Lovers, Where Eagles Dare, and more). Her career (and life) were cut short by alcoholism. 40 4 Apr 1975 Microsoft, the computer software/hardware company, was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. 40 5 Apr 1975 Death of Chiang Kai-shek, Chairman of the Nationalist government in China (1928–41, 1943–48), President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (1948–49, 1950–75). 40 5 Apr 1975 Death of Victor Marijnen, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1963–65), Mayor of The Hague (1968–75). 40 12 Apr 1975 Vietnam War – Operation Eagle Pull (Cambodia). The USA admitted defeat in Cambodia and, with the communist Khmer Rouge forces closing in for their final assault, successfully evacuated its remaining personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. 40 13 Apr 1975 The Lebanese Civil War began. (It lasted for 15 years until Oct 1990.) 40 13 Apr 1975 Death of François (N’Garta) Tombalbaye, first President of Chad (1960–75). (Killed in a coup.) 40 17 Apr 1975 The Cambodian Civil War ended after 8 years; Khmer Rouge victory. 40 19 Apr 1975 India launched its first satellite, Aryabhata. (It failed after 4 days due to a power failure and re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere in Feb 1992.)

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Ann. Date Event 40 21 Apr 1975 The President of South Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu, announced his resignation after losing the confidence of his closest allies. He was succeeded by Duong Van Minh, who surrendered to the communist People’s Army of Vietnam after 2 days in office. 40 23 Apr 1975 Death of William Hartnell, British stage, film and television actor. Best known as the first incarnation of The Doctor in the TV series Doctor Who. 40 24 Apr 1975 The Red Army Faction (also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang) attacked the West German embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, taking 11 (or 13?) hostages, including the West Germany Ambassador. 2 hostages were killed, and 2 gang members died when they detonated explosives and set the building on fire. 40 25 Apr 1975 The Portuguese Constituent Assembly election was held – the first free election in Portugal for 50 years. (The assembly’s main role was to produce a new constitution, ahead of a legislative election in Apr 1976.) 40 29 Apr 1975 Vietnam War – Operation Frequent Wind. The USA evacuated its civilian (to 30th) personnel and South Vietnamese refugees from Saigon ahead of the take- over of the city by the North Vietnamese (see below). 40 30 Apr 1975 The Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon. South Vietnam surrendered to the North. (This led to the reunification of Vietnam as a communist state on 2nd July 1976.) 30 4 Apr 1985 Death of Kate Roberts, Welsh novelist, short story writer and nationalist. A major figure in Welsh-language literature, and the first woman to be recognised as such. 30 8 Apr 1985 Bhopal disaster: India filed a law suit against Union Carbide for the deadly gas leak of 3rd Dec 1984 which killed approximately 15,000 – 20,000 people and left over 100,000 with long-term health problems. 30 8 Apr 1985 Death of John Frederick Coots, prolific American songwriter. Best known for Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. 30 11 Apr 1985 Death of Enver Hoxha, Communist leader/dictator of Albania (1944–85); succeeded by Ramiz Alia. 30 12 Apr 1985 U.S. Senator Jake Garn of Utah became the first public official to fly into space, aboard the space shuttle Discovery. 30 14 Apr 1985 Death of Noele Gordon, British stage, film and TV actress. Best known for her role as Meg Richardson/Mortimer in the TV soap opera Crossroads. 30 21 Apr 1985 Death of Rudi Gernreich, Austrian-born American avant-garde fashion designer. 30 21 Apr 1985 Death of Tancredo Neves, Brazilian politician. Elected President of Brazil in 1985 but died without taking office. 30 23 Apr 1985 The Coca-Cola Company changed the formula of Coca-Cola and launched it onto the market as New Coke. (Public response was overwhelmingly negative and the original formula was restored within 3 months.) 30 23 Apr 1985 Death of Samuel (Sam) J. Ervin, American politician. Senator from North Carolina. Chairman of the committee which investigated the Watergate scandal, leading to U.S. President Richard Nixon’s resignation.

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Ann. Date Event 30 25 Apr 1985 The West German Parliament revised its libel and slander laws, making it illegal to deny the holocaust. 25 1 Apr 1990 Strangeways Prison riot, Manchester, UK. 1,000 inmates held a violent protest against overcrowding. 25 3 Apr 1990 Death of Sarah Vaughan, (‘Sassy’), American jazz singer, known for her rich voice and wide range. 25 5 Apr 1990 Sabine Bergmann-Pohl took office as head of state of East Germany – for 6 months. (East Germany reunified with West Germany on 3rd October.) 25 7 Apr 1990 Iran-Contra Affair: former U.S. National Security Adviser John Poindexter was convicted of 5 counts of lying to Congress and obstructing the Iran– Contra investigation committees. (All convictions were reversed by the Federal Appeals Court in 1991.) 25 7 Apr 1990 The Norwegian ferry MS Scandinavian Star caught fire between Norway and Denmark. 159 people were killed – about of the people on board 25 7 Apr 1990 The Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center in Ohio, USA was charged with obscenity, and its director was arrested, for displaying a collection of photographs by the controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. (This was the first time in the USA that a gallery was charged with such an offence. A trial in Sept–Oct 1990 found that Mapplethorpe’s work was valid art and the charges were dropped.) 25 8 Apr 1990 The first episode of the drama series Twin Peaks was broadcast on ABC TV in the USA. 25 8 Apr 1990 Death of Ryan White, 18-year-old American AIDS victim who contracted the disease via a blood transfusion as a young boy and was subsequently banned from school. His fight for fair treatment led to international fame and helped promote understanding. 25 11 Apr 1990 British Customs officers announced that they had seized what they believed to be the barrel of a massive ‘supergun’ on a ship bound for Iraq. 25 12 Apr 1990 East Germany accepted joint responsibility for the Nazi Holocaust during WWII and apologised to Israel and all Jews. 25 13 Apr 1990 The Soviet Union accepted responsibility for the WWII Katyn Massacre in which thousands of Polish army officers were murdered. (The Soviets had previously blamed the massacre on Nazi Germany.) 25 15 Apr 1990 Death of Greta Garbo, Swedish film actress, known for her portrayals of strong-willed heroines (Mata Hari, Anna Karenina, Camille, Ninotchka). 25 17 Apr 1990 Death of Ralph Abernathy, American pastor and civil rights activist; Martin Luther King’s chief aide. He became president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference following MLK’s assassination in 1968. 25 19 Apr 1990 The Nicaraguan civil war ended when the Contra guerrillas, leftist Sandinistas, and the government called a truce. 25 21 Apr 1990 Death of Erté, Russian-born French fashion designer and illustrator. Known for his lavish theatrical designs. 25 23 Apr 1990 Death of Paulette Goddard, American actress. Wife of the actors Charlie Chaplin and Burgess Meredith. (There are doubts about whether she was actually married to Chaplin.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 75 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 24 Apr 1990 Gruinard Island in Scotland was officially declared free of anthrax after 48 years in quarantine. It was used to test anthrax as a biological weapon during WWII. 25 24 Apr 1990 The Hubble Space Telescope was launched. 25 25 Apr 1990 Violeta Chamorro became the first female President of Nicaragua. 25 25 Apr 1990 Death of Dexter Gordon, American jazz/bebob/swing saxophonist. 25 28 Apr 1990 The musical A Chorus Line closed on Broadway after 6,137 performances. 20 2 Apr 1995 New York City Transit Police was dissolved and became the Transit Bureau of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). 20 2 Apr 1995 Death of Hannes Alfvén, Swedish electrical engineer, physicist and astrophysicist. Joint winner of the 1970 Nobel Prize for Physics for his work on magneto-hydrodynamics and plasma physics. 20 2 Apr 1995 Death of Julius Hemphill, American jazz saxophonist and composer. 20 2 Apr 1995 Death of Harvey Penick, American golfer, instructor and writer. Coached many top players. Also known for Harvey Penick’s Little Red Golf Book. 20 4 Apr 1995 Death of Kenny Everett, British radio DJ, comedian and television entertainer (The Kenny Everett Video Show and The Kenny Everett Television Show). Known for his zany humour, characters and sketches. 20 5 Apr 1995 Death of Christian Pineau, French politician and noted French Resistance leader during WWII. French foreign minister (1956–1958). 20 6 Apr 1995 Death of V. J. Sukselainen, Prime Minister of Finland (1957, 1959–61). 20 9 Apr 1995 The President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, was elected for a second term. 20 10 Apr 1995 New York City banned smoking in the indoor dining areas of restaurants with more than 35 seats. (The ban was gradually extended and by July 2003 it included all enclosed workplaces in the entire state, including all bars, restaurants and construction sites.) 20 10 Apr 1995 Death of Morarji Desai, Indian independence activist and politician. Prime Minister of India (1977–79). 20 10 Apr 1995 Death of Chen Yun, influential Chinese communist revolutionary and leader. One of the last surviving members of the Long March. 20 14 Apr 1995 Death of Michael Fordham, British psychiatrist and Jungian analyst. Best known for his studies of the development of children. 20 14 Apr 1995 Death of Burl Ives, Academy Award-winning American stage, film and television actor and folk singer. 20 16 Apr 1995 Canada and Spain ended the ‘Turbot War’, a long-running dispute over fishing rights in the north-west Atlantic, and agreed to provide for the conservation of fish stocks. 20 16 Apr 1995 Death of Arthur English, British radio, film and television actor and variety comedian. Best known for his roles in the TV comedy series Are You Being Served?, In Sickness and in Health, and Till Death Us Do Part. 20 18 Apr 1995 Death of Arturo Frondizi, President of Argentina (1958–62). 20 19 Apr 1995 A terrorist group released poisonous phosgene gas on a crowded train at Yokohama railway station, Japan, injuring about 370 people. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 76 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 19 Apr 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. A truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, USA, killing 168 people and injuring 500. (Timothy McVeigh was arrested on 21st April, convicted of the bombing, and executed in June 2001. Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier were convicted as conspirators and received prison sentences.) 20 20 Apr 1995 prominent dissident. Known for his disillusionment with communism. 20 20 Apr 1995 Death of Robert (Rob) Wyatt, British cricketer. Captain of the English national team (1933–35). 20 21 Apr 1995 Death of Tessie O’Shea, Tony Award-winning Welsh stage and television entertainer and actress. 20 22 Apr 1995 Whitewater affair: special prosecutor Kenneth Starr separately interviewed U.S. President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton about their involvement in the Whitewater Development Corporation. 20 22 Apr 1995 Death of Maggie Kuhn, American social activist who founded the Gray Panthers to fight ageism. 20 22 Apr 1995 Death of Don Pullen, American jazz pianist, organist and composer. 20 23 Apr 1995 Death of Howard Cosell, American sports journalist and broadcaster. Known for his arrogant style and trademark toupee. 20 25 Apr 1995 Death of Ginger Rogers, American dancer and actress, noted for her on-screen partnership with Fred Astaire. 20 26 Apr 1995 Coors Field baseball stadium opened in Denver, Colorado, USA. It is the home of the Colorado Rockies team. 20 27 Apr 1995 Death of Willem Frederik Hermans, Dutch satirical novelist, short story writer, playwright, poet, essayist and photographer. Regarded as one of the most important post-war Dutch authors. 20 27 Apr 1995 Death of Peter Wright, British MI5 counter-intelligence officer. Author of the controversial memoir/exposé Spycatcher, which the British Government attempted to ban. 20 28 Apr 1995 Death of Andrew Salkey, Caribbean novelist, writer, poet, editor, broadcaster and educator. Known for his works about Jamaican culture. 20 30 Apr 1995 Death of Maung Maung Kha, Prime Minister of Burma (1977–88). 15 1 Apr 2000 Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi Keizo suffered a fatal stroke and fell into a coma from which he never regained consciousness. He died on 14th May. He was succeeded on 5th April by Mori Yoshiro. 15 1 Apr 2000 A rare Enigma machine, used by the Germans to encrypt messages in WWII, was stolen from Bletchley Park, UK. (Returned October 2000.) 15 14 Apr 2000 British gangster Kenneth Noye (‘The M25 killer’) was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of killing motorist Stephen Cameron in a road-rage incident near Swanley, Kent in May 1996. 15 15 Apr 2000 Giant Sequoia National Monument was established in California, USA. 15 22 Apr 2000 Sri Lankan Civil War – the Second Battle of Elephant Pass; Tamil Tiger (to 23rd) victory. The Tamil rebels captured the strategically important military base and held it until Jan 2009, when it was recaptured by the army. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 77 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 15 22 Apr 2000 ‘The Big Number’ change took place on the UK’s telephone system, with many area codes updated or replaced, and new ones created for mobile, freephone, local rate, national rate and premium rate services. 10 1 Apr 2005 Death of Alexander Brott, Canadian conductor, composer, violinist and teacher who championed symphonic music in Canada. 10 1 Apr 2005 Death of Jack Keller, American songwriter and record producer who wrote songs for numerous artists including the Chordettes, the Monkees, Crystal Gayle, Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes, Ray Charles, B. B. King and Grover Washington, Jr. Best known for the song Venus In Blue Jeans and for the theme music for the TV series Bewitched. 10 2 Apr 2005 James Stewart, Jr. became the first African American to win a major motorsports event – the supercross motorcycle racing event at Texas stadium. (He was World Supercross Champion in 2006, 2007 and 2009.) 10 2 Apr 2005 Death of Pope John Paul II. 10 4 Apr 2005 Death of Edward Bronfman, Canadian businessman and philanthropist. Co-founded (with his brother Peter) a vast conglomerate that owned the Labatt brewing company and the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team. 10 5 Apr 2005 American news anchorman Peter Jennings, the host of ABC’s World News Tonight, announced in a taped message that he had lung cancer. This was his final TV appearance. He died on 7th August. 10 5 Apr 2005 Death of Saul Bellow, Canadian-born American novelist. Winner of the 1976 Nobel Prize for Literature. 10 5 Apr 2005 Death of Dale Messick, American comic strip artist. Best known as the creator of Brenda Starr, Reporter. 10 5 Apr 2005 Death of John Sichel, British stage, film and TV director and theatrical trainer. Father of the psychologist and TV presenter Tanya Byron. 10 6 Apr 2005 Death of Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Husband of the actress Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco). Succeeded by Prince Albert II. 10 7 Apr 2005 Jalal Talabani became President of Iraq. 10 9 Apr 2005 Charles, Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles at Windsor Guildhall, Berkshire, UK. 10 9 Apr 2005 Death of Andrea Dworkin, American feminist and writer. Best known for her criticism of pornography. 10 10 Apr 2005 Death of Norbert Brainin, Austrian-born British violinist and teacher. Best known as first violinist of the Amadeus Quartet. 10 10 Apr 2005 Death of Iakovos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America (1956–96). 10 11 Apr 2005 Death of André François, Hungarian-born French cartoonist, graphic artist and illustrator. Best known for his satirical cartoons. 10 13 Apr 2005 Eric Rudolph pleaded guilty to carrying out the bomb attack at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics which killed 2 people and injured 111, as well as 3 other bombings. (In July–August 2005 he was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, having made a plea bargain to avoid the death penalty.)

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Ann. Date Event 10 13 Apr 2005 Death of Johnnie Johnson, American blues/rock and roll pianist. Best known for his work with Chuck Berry. 10 14 Apr 2005 Oregon Supreme Court (USA) nullified nearly 3,000 marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in Multnomah County in March 2004. (Since Oct 2013 Oregon has recognised same-sex marriages performed outside the state but does not allow them to be performed there.) 10 19 Apr 2005 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was elected Pope Benedict XVI. 10 19 Apr 2005 Death of Ruth Hussey, American stage, film and television actress. Best known for her role as the photographer in The Philadelphia Story. 10 20 Apr 2005 Death of Fumio Niwa, prolific Japanese novelist. 10 21 Apr 2005 John Negroponte became the first Director of National Intelligence in the USA. 10 22 Apr 2005 Death of Philip Morrison, American physicist and educator. Helped build the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki in WWII. He subsequently became an advocate for arms control and was Professor of Physics Emeritus at MIT. 10 23 Apr 2005 Death of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, controversial Australian politician. Premier of Queensland (1968–87) – career ended by a corruption scandal. 10 23 Apr 2005 Death of Sir John Mills, Academy Award-winning British stage, film and television actor whose career spanned 7 decades (In Which We Serve, Waterloo Road, Great Expectations, Hobson’s Choice, Gandhi, and more). 10 24 Apr 2005 Birth of Snuppy, the world’s first cloned dog, at Seoul National University, South Korea. (The lead scientist Hwang Woo-Suk was later found to have lied about his research on previous projects including the cloning of a human embryo. He was charged with fraud and dismissed from the university. However, an independent investigation found that Snuppy was a genuine clone.) 10 24 Apr 2005 Death of Ezer Weizman, President of Israel (1993–2000). 10 24 Apr 2005 Death of Fei Xiaotong, Chinese sociologist, anthropologist, social activist and educator. Noted for his studies of China’s ethnic groups. 10 26 Apr 2005 Following demonstrations, Syria withdrew the last of its military forces from Lebanon, ending its 29-year presence there. 10 26 Apr 2005 Death of Augusto Roa Bastos, renowned Paraguayan novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, journalist and educator. 10 26 Apr 2005 Death of Maria Schell, award-winning Austrian stage and film actress. Sister of the actor and director Maximilian Schell. 10 27 Apr 2005 The Airbus A380 made its first flight, in Toulouse, France. (It entered service in Oct 2007. It is currently the world’s largest passenger jet, with seating for up to 853 passengers. Many airports had to upgrade their facilities to accommodate it.)

10 28 Apr 2005 The Patent Law Treaty went into effect in 10 countries. (UK: 22nd Mar 2006, Australia: 16th Mar 2009, Ireland: 27th May 2012, USA: 18th Dec 2013.) 10 28 Apr 2005 Death of Percy Heath, American jazz bassist (Modern Jazz Quartet, Heath Brothers). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 79 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 29 Apr 2005 Death of William J. Bell, American screenwriter and television producer who created the soap operas Another World, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. 10 30 Apr 2005 Death of Ron Todd, British trade union leader. General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) (1985–1992).

MAY 2015

Ann. Date Event 1400 8 May 615 Death of Pope Boniface IV (now Saint Boniface IV). (or 25th?) 1300 19 May 715 Pope Gregory II took office. 750 May/June Birth of Dante, major Italian poet, writer, literary theorist and political 1265? thinker of the Middle Ages. Best known for The Divine Comedy. 750 10 May 1265 Birth of Fushimi, Emperor of Japan (1287–1298). 750 16 May 1265 Death of Saint Simon Stock, English monk, hermit and saint. Said to have ? been 100 years old. (Some sources give his month of death as July. 16th May is his official feast day.) 600 4 May 1415 The Council of Constance condemned the late English religious reformer John Wycliffe as a heretic. (His works were later destroyed and his body exhumed and burned and the ashes thrown into a river.) 500 13 May 1515 Mary Tudor (formerly Queen of France) married Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk at Greenwich in London, and she became the Duchess of Suffolk. (She was married to Louis XII of France for 3 months until his death on 1st Jan 1515. She then married Charles Brandon in France in secret on 3rd May but this was technically treason as Brandon did not have King Henry VIII’s permission to marry an English princess. They narrowly escaped imprisonment or execution but paid a heavy fine and were then officially married in London.) 500 19 May 1515 George, Duke of Saxony, sold Friesland to Charles of Habsburg, Duke of Burgundy (later Holy Roman Emperor Charles V) for 100,000 guilders. 300 1 May 1715 Great Northern War: Prussia declared war on Sweden. 300 4 May 1715 French merchant Jean Marius introduced the first practical folding umbrella (it could fit into your pocket when folded).

300 19 May 1715 Death of Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, English statesman. Chancellor of the Exchequer (1694–99), First Lord of the Treasury (1697–99, 1714–15). 300 22 May 1715 Birth of François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis, French cardinal and (or 1717?) statesman. 250 3 May 1765 Britain passed the Quartering Act, requiring the American colonies to provide British soldiers in their area with food and accommodation at the colonies’ expense. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 80 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 250 3 May 1765 The first medical school in the USA was founded. (It is now known as the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The first courses began in Sept 1765.) 250 7 May 1765 Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory was launched. (Best known for the Battle of Trafalgar, now a museum ship in Portsmouth, England. It is the oldest naval ship still in commission.) 250 18 May 1765 A large part of the city of Montreal, Canada was destroyed by fire. 250 29 May 1765 Patrick Henry (a Founding Father of the USA) denounced the Stamp Act before the Virginia General Assembly and introduced the Virginia Resolves (also known as the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions). 200 2 May 1815 Neapolitan War – the Battle of Tolentino (Italy); Austrian victory. (to 3rd) This was the decisive battle of the war (see 20th below). 200 5 May 1815 Birth of Eugène-Marin Labiche, French playwright (light comedies). 200 20 May 1815 The Neopolitan War between Naples and Austria ended with the signing of the Treaty of Casalanza. 200 20 May 1815 The Second Barbary War. American victory which led to the end of piracy (to 3 Jul) by north African states in the Mediterranean Sea. 200 27 May 1815 Birth of Sir Henry Parkes, British statesman, known as the Father of the Australian Federation. Premier of New South Wales (1872–75, 1877, 1878–83, 1887–89, 1889–91). 175 1 May 1840 The world’s first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain. (It came into official use on 6th May.) 175 7 May 1840 The Great Natchez Tornado, Mississippi, USA. 317 people were killed. It is the second-deadliest single tornado in U.S. history. 175 7 May 1840 Birth of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the most popular Russian composer of all time. 175 8 May 1840 Alexander Wolcott was granted a U.S. patent for the first ever camera. (The first ever photograph was taken in 1814 by Joseph Niepce, who used a camera obscura, though the image later faded. He made another attempt in 1826 using a sliding wooden box. Louis Daguerre created the first photograph that did not fade in 1837, again using a camera obscura.) 175 20 May 1840 York Minster in England was badly damaged by fire when a clockmaker left a candle burning in the tower. 175 22 May 1840 The state of New South Wales, Australia issued an order ending the transporting of British convicts there. (Tasmania continued to accept them, and Western Australia began accepting them in 1850.) 175 27 May 1840 Death of Niccolò Paganini, Italian composer and violinist. The most celebrated violin virtuoso of his era. 150 1 May 1865 The Treaty of the Triple Alliance was signed by Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The secret treaty prescribed their actions during and after the Paraguayan War. 150 2 May 1865 American Civil War: U.S. President Andrew Johnson offered a $100,000 reward for the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, accusing him of helping to plan the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. (Davis was captured on 10th – see below.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 81 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 2 May 1865 Birth of Clyde Fitch, American playwright. One of the most popular Broadway writers of his era, but largely forgotten now. 150 4 May 1865 American Civil War: the Confederate cabinet met for the final time, and the Confederate government was dissolved. 150 4 May 1865 American Civil War: one of the last significant Confederate armies surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama. 150 5 May 1865 The first train robbery in the USA took place in the village of North Bend, Ohio. The train was derailed by tearing up the tracks, over 100 passengers were robbed at gunpoint, and safes containing thousands of dollars in U.S. bonds were blown open. (The robbers were never captured.) 150 10 May 1865 The American Civil War officially ended. 150 10 May 1865 American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured by Union troops in Georgia. (He was imprisoned for 2 years.) 150 10 May 1865 American Civil War: Confederate guerilla leader William Quantrill was ambushed and mortally wounded in Kentucky. He died on 6th June. 150 10 May 1865 American Civil War: General Sam Jones’s Confederate forces surrendered in Tallahassee, Florida. 150 11 May 1865 Birth of Jan Hendrik Leopold, Dutch poet and educator. 150 12 May 1865 American Civil War – the Battle of Palmito Ranch (Texas); Confederate (to 13th) victory. This was the last major clash of the war. Some historians consider it to have occurred after the official end of the war (see 10th above). 150 15 May 1865 Birth of Albert Verwey, Dutch poet, literary historian and educator. 150 17 May 1865 The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was founded in Paris, France (as the International Telegraph Union). It is an agency of the United Nations. 150 21 May 1865 Birth of Christian Jürgensen Thomsen, Danish archaeologist who originated the three-age system of classifying man’s development in prehistoric Europe: the Stone Age, Iron Age and Bronze Age. 150 23 May 1865 Birth of Epitácio Pessoa, President of Brazil (1919–22). 150 25 May 1865 Birth of Frederick Augustus III, last King of Saxony (1904–18). 150 25 May 1865 Birth of John Mott, American evangelist and YMCA leader. Joint winner of the 1946 Nobel Peace Prize. 150 25 May 1865 Birth of Pieter Zeeman, Dutch physicist. Joint winner of the 1902 Nobel Prize for Physics for discovering the Zeeman effect, which is important in spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 150 26 May 1865 American Civil War: the last significant Confederate field army surrendered in Galveston, Texas. 150 26 May 1865 American Civil War: the Trans-Mississippi Confederate army surrendered in Shreveport, Louisiana. 150 29 May 1865 U.S. President Andrew Johnson proclaimed a general amnesty to Confederates. All property (but not slaves) would be restored to those who took an oath of allegiance. High-ranking officers and people owning more than $20,000 worth of property had to apply for individual pardons. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 82 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 30 May 1865 Death of John Catron, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1837–65).

125 2 May 1890 Oklahoma Territory was organised in the USA. (Statehood 16th Nov 1907.) 125 12 May 1890 The first County Championship cricket match took place in England. 125 17 May 1890 The first issue of the comic book Comic Cuts was published in the UK. (It ceased publication in 1953.) 125 19 May 1890 Birth of Ho Chi Minh, President of North Vietnam (1945–69). A key figure in the Vietnam War. 125 24 May 1890 American entrepreneur George Francis Train broke the world record for the fastest journey around the world, returning to his starting point in Tacoma, Washington after 67 days. 125 24 May 1890 The Tivoli Music Hall opened in London. (It became one of London’s leading music halls, became a cinema in 1923, and closed in 1957.) 100 1 May 1915 World War I: a German submarine torpedoed the U.S. oil tanker Gulflight near the Scilly Isles, UK, despite the USA being a neutral country at the time. This sparked a diplomatic incident that brought the USA closer to war with Germany. (The USA entered the war in April 1917.) 100 1 May 1915 Birth of Archie Williams, American athlete. 400m gold medallist at the 1936 Olympics. 100 2 May 1915 Birth of Peggy Mount, British stage and television actress. Known for (or 1916?) playing fearsome battleaxe characters, and for her ‘foghorn’ voice (The Larkins, You’re Only Young Twice). 100 3 May 1915 World War I: Italy dropped out of the Triple Alliance with Austria- Hungary and Germany, stating that the Alliance was supposed to have been a defensive one (see 23rd below). 100 3 May 1915 Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote his famous war poem In Flanders Fields. (Published 8th Dec in Punch magazine, UK.) 100 5 May 1915 Birth of Alice Faye, American film actress and singer, also known for her radio show with her husband Phil Harris. She retired from acting at the peak of her career because her family was more important to her. 100 6 May 1915 Birth of George Perle, Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer and music theorist. Known for his compositions using 12-tone tonality. 100 6 May 1915 Birth of Orson Welles, Academy Award-winning American stage, film and radio actor, director, producer and writer. Best known for the radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds and the film Citizen Kane. 100 6 May 1915 Birth of Theodore H. White, Pulitzer Prize-winning American political journalist, historian and novelist. Best known for his accounts of U.S. Presidential elections and the wars in China. 100 7 May 1915 World War I: the sinking of the Lusitania. A German U-boat sank the British passenger liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland. Over 1,000 passengers were killed, including 128 Americans. (After U.S. diplomatic pressure the German naval blockade around Britain was lifted in September, but reimposed in Feb 1917 leading the USA to join the war.) 100 7 May 1915 Death of Charles Frohman, leading American theatrical manager and promoter. (Died aboard the Lusitania – see above.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 83 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 7 May 1915 Death of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, American millionaire and businessman. A prominent member of the Vanderbilt family of philanthropists. (Died aboard the Lusitania – see above.) 100 8 May 1915 Death of Henry McNeal Turner, the first African American chaplain in the U.S. Army. (United States Colored Troops during the U.S. Civil War.) 100 9 May 1915 World War I – the Second Battle of Artois (France); result: stalemate. (to 18 Jun) 100 9 May 1915 World War I: a German Zeppelin bombed Southend, England. (to 10th) (It also bombed Dover and Ramsgate on 16th–17th, and Southend again on 26th–27th. The April–May Zeppelin raids killed a total of 6 people and damaged or destroyed a small number of houses.) 100 10 May 1915 Birth of Monica Dickens, British novelist, writer and children’s author. Helped found the first U.S. branch of the Samaritans. Great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens. 100 10 May 1915 Birth of Salah Abou Seif, Egyptian film director. Noted for the realism of his films, several of which were banned. 100 10 May 1915 Birth of Sir Denis Thatcher, British businessman. Husband of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. 100 15 May 1915 Birth of Mario Monicelli, Italian film director and screenwriter. (or 16th?) Regarded as one of the masters of Italian-style comedy. 100 15 May 1915 Birth of Paul Samuelson, American economist and educator. The first American to win the Nobel Prize for Economics (1970) for his many contributions to economic theory. 100 17 May 1915 The National Baptist Convention of America was established after splitting from the National Baptist Convention in a dispute over the ownership and operation of the Publishing Board. 100 20 May 1915 Birth of Moshe Dayan, Israeli military leader and statesman. Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Defense Minister and Foreign Minister. A symbol of security in Israel. Controversially amassed an extensive private collection of historical artefacts – much of it via illegal archaeological digs. 100 22 May 1915 Quintinshill rail disaster, near Gretna Green, Scotland. 226 people were killed and 246 injured when 3 passenger trains collided due to a signalling error, causing a fire that spread to 2 goods trains. It remains the worst rail disaster in the UK (in terms of fatalities). 100 22 May 1915 Lassen Peak in California, USA erupted. It was the only volcano apart from Mount St. Helens to erupt in the contiguous USA during the 20th century. (There were 3 eruptions in Alaska and 2 in Hawaii.) 100 23 May 1915 Italy declared war on its former Triple Alliance partner Austria-Hungary, entering World War I. (Italy also declared war on Germany in Aug 1916.) 100 23 May 1915 American inventor Thomas Edison announced the invention of the ‘telescribe’ – a combined telephone and phonograph that could record both sides of a telephone conversation or take messages. 100 23 May 1915 Birth of Clyde Wiegand, American physicist. He co-discovered the antiproton and was a key member of the team that developed the atomic bomb. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 84 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 25 May 1915 China signed a treaty with Japan, agreeing to 13 of the 21 demands Japan had made in its January ultimatum. (See 18th Jan 1915.) 100 25 May 1915 Birth of Daniel Wolf, American journalist. Co-founder and first editor of the Village Voice weekly newspaper. 100 26 May 1915 The Liberal Party and Conservative Party formed a coalition government in Britain, with Herbert Henry Asquith as Prime Minister. This marked the end of the last all-Liberal government. 100 27 May 1915 Birth of Herman Wouk, American novelist. Known for his epic war novels (The Caine Mutiny, Winds of War, War and Remembrance). 100 28 May 1915 Birth of Joseph Greenberg, American linguist and anthropologist. The first person to present a unified classification of African languages. 100 31 May 1915 World War I: the first German Zeppelin air raid on London. 7 people were killed, 35 injured and 7 properties destroyed. 100 31 May 1915 World War I – the Kamerun Campaign – the Second Battle of Garua; (to 10 Jun) Allied victory. 90 1 May 1925 Cyprus became a British Crown Colony. 90 1 May 1925 The All-China Federation of Trade Unions was founded. It is the world’s largest trade union. 90 5 May 1925 Scopes Trial: American science teacher John Scopes was arrested and charged with teaching the theory of evolution at a high school in Tennessee, in violation of the Butler Act. (See 10th July.) 90 5 May 1925 Men aged 25 and over were granted the right to vote in Japan. 90 5 May 1925 Afrikaans became an official language of South Africa (alongside English and Dutch). 90 13 May 1925 The Gold Standard Act was passed, returning Britain to the gold standard which had been suspended at the outbreak of WWI. (Britain abandoned the gold standard in 1931.) 90 13 May 1925 Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic officially joined the Soviet Union. (In Dec 1991 it became independent as the Republic of Uzbekistan.) 90 14 May 1925 Paul von Hindenburg took office as President of Germany (until 1934 when he was succeeded by Adolf Hitler). 90 14 May 1925 Death of Sir H(enry) Rider Haggard, British novelist. Known for his adventure stories set mainly in Africa. Best known for King Solomon’s Mines. 90 19 May 1925 Birth of Pol Pot, Cambodian communist revolutionary and brutal dictator, leader of the Khmer Rouge. Responsible for the deaths of up to 3 million people. (Died 1998.) 90 19 May 1925 Birth of Guy Provost, Canadian actor. (Died 2004.) 90 19 May 1925 Birth of Malcolm X, controversial African American Muslim leader and human rights activist. (Assassinated 1965.) 90 21 May 1925 Prohibition: the sale of beer was legalised in Canada. 90 24 May 1925 Birth of Mai Zetterling, Swedish actress and film director. (Died 1994.) 90 25 May 1925 The National Forensics League was founded in the USA. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 85 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 90 30 May 1925 May Thirtieth Incident, Shanghai, China. Police opened fire on demonstrators protesting against Japanese-run industries, killing several of them. This led to the founding of the May Thirtieth Movement – a major trade union and anti-imperialist organisation. 80 1 May 1935 Death of Henri Pélissier, French cyclist. Winner of the 1923 Tour de France. (Shot dead by his girlfriend.) 80 2 May 1935 Birth of Faisal II, last King of Iraq (1939–58). (Killed in a coup in 1958.) 80 6 May 1935 King George V and Queen Mary of the UK celebrated their silver jubilee. 80 9 May 1935 Birth of Roger Hargreaves, British children’s writer and illustrator who created the Mr. Men and Little Miss series. (Died 1988.) 80 11 May 1935 Birth of Doug McClure, American film and television actor (The Virginian, At the Earth’s Core, The Land That Time Forgot, and more). (Died 1995.) 80 11 May 1935 Death of Edward Herbert Thompson, American archaeologist and diplomat. His work in Yucatán revealed much about Mayan civilisation. 80 12 May 1935 the Second Polish Republic (1926–35). 80 15 May 1935 The first section of the Moscow Metro opened to the public. It was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union. 80 15 May 1935 Death of Kazimir Malevich, pioneering Russian/Ukrainian abstract/avant- garde artist. Founder of the Suprematist movement. 80 17 May 1935 Birth of Dennis Potter, British television dramatist and screenwriter (The Singing Detective, Brimstone and Treacle, Lipstick on Your Collar, Gorky Park and more). (Died 1994.) 80 17 May 1935 Death of Paul Dukas, French composer. Best known for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. 80 18 May 1935 A conference on the economic status of African Americans was held at (to 20th) Howard University, Washington D.C., USA. The National Negro Congress was established as a result, first meeting in Feb 1936. 80 19 May 1935 Death of T. E. Lawrence, (‘Lawrence of Arabia’), British Army officer, military strategist, archaeologist and writer. Best known for his activities in the Middle East during WWI and for his autobiographical account The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. (Fatally injured in a motorcycle accident.) 80 19 May 1935 Death of Charles Martin Loeffler, French/German-born American violinist and composer. 80 21 May 1935 Death of Jane Addams, pioneering American social worker, reformer and women’s rights campaigner. Joint winner of the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize – the first American woman to win. 80 21 May 1935 Death of Hugo de Vries, Dutch botanist and geneticist who suggested the concept of genes, rediscovered the laws of heredity and developed the mutation theory of evolution. 80 24 May 1935 Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (later King Frederik IX) married Princess Ingrid of Sweden. 80 25 May 1935 American athlete Jesse Owens set 3 world records (long jump, 220-yard sprint and 220-yard hurdles) and equalled the record for the 100-yard dash (all in just 45 minutes) at the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 86 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 25 May 1935 Death of Sir Frank Dyson, British Astronomer Royal who introduced the Greenwich time signal (‘pips’) and helped prove Einstein’s theory of general relativity during observations of a solar eclipse. 80 27 May 1935 Birth of Mal Evans, British road manager for The Beatles. (Shot dead by Los Angeles police in 1976.) 80 30 May 1935 American baseball legend Babe Ruth played his final game. 80 31 May 1935 Balochistan earthquake, British India. The city of Quetta (now in Pakistan) was destroyed and about 40,000 people were killed (some sources say up to 60,000). 75 1 May 1940 Tromsø became the provisional capital of Norway when King Haakon VII and his government established a temporary base there after evacuating from Oslo to escape the Nazis. (In June they were evacuated to London and established a government in exile.) 75 1 May 1940 Holocaust: Rudolf Höss was appointed as the first commandant of Auschwitz Concentration Camp. 75 6 May 1940 American writer John Steinbeck was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Grapes of Wrath. 75 7 May 1940 Birth of Angela Carter, British novelist, short story writer, poet, dramatist and journalist. Known for her stories of feminism and magical realism and for taking elements from mythology, legends and fairy tales and giving them Gothic/humorous/erotic makeovers. (Died 1992.) 75 7 May 1940 Death of George Lansbury, British politician. Labour Party leader (1932–35). 75 8 May 1940 Birth of Peter Benchley, American novelist. Best known for Jaws (later adapted into a blockbuster movie by Steven Spielberg). (Died 2006.) 75 8 May 1940 Birth of Ricky Nelson, American rock and roll/rockabilly/pop singer, songwriter, musician and actor. (Died 1985.) 75 10 May 1940 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned; succeeded by Winston Churchill. 75 10 May 1940 World War II – the Battle of France; Axis victory – the French Third (to 22 Jun) Republic was replaced by Vichy France. 75 10 May 1940 World War II: Germany invaded Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. 75 10 May 1940 World War II: the British invasion of Iceland; Allied victory. 75 10 May 1940 World War II: the Dutch Royal Family fled to Britain. (Princess Juliana – (or 13th?) later Queen Juliana – also spent a month in Britain before moving to Canada until the end of the war.) 75 11 May 1940 The 1939–40 New York World’s Fair opened for its second (and final) season. 75 13 May 1940 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave his first speech to the House of Commons, saying ‘I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.’ 75 13 May 1940 Birth of Bruce Chatwin, prize-winning British novelist and travel writer. Known for his books based on his many travel assignments. (Died 1989.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 87 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 75 14 May 1940 World War II: the Rotterdam Blitz, Netherlands. The German Luftwaffe bombed Rotterdam – despite a ceasefire having been negotiated. Nearly 900 civilians were killed and tens of thousands left homeless. After noting the devastating impact, the Germans threatened to destroy the city of Utrecht if the Netherlands did not surrender (see below). 75 14 May 1940 World War II: the Netherlands surrendered to Germany. 75 14 May 1940 World War II: the Home Guard was established in the UK (as the Local Defence Volunteers). It was nicknamed ‘Dad’s Army’ as it was comprised of volunteers ineligible for military service, usually due to their age. 75 14 May 1940 Birth of H. Jones, British Army officer, posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. (Killed in the Battle of Goose Green, Falklands War, 1982.) 75 14 May 1940 Death of Emma Goldman, Lithuanian-born international anarchist, feminist, writer and lecturer. 75 14 May 1940 Death of Menno ter Braak, Dutch modernist writer and literary critic. Co-founder of the magazine Forum. (Committed suicide when Germany invaded the Netherlands.) 75 15 May 1940 World War II: the British RAF launched strategic night bombing raids on (to 16th) targets in Germany. 75 15 May 1940 The first McDonald’s restaurant opened in San Bernardino, California, USA. 75 15 May 1940 Nylon stockings went on sale for the first time in the USA 75 19 May 1940 Birth of Mickey Newbury, American country/pop songwriter, singer and musician. His songs were recorded by many leading artists. (Died 2002.) 75 20 May 1940 Holocaust: the first prisoners arrived at Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland – 30 German criminals who would become kapos (prisoners who supervised other prisoners, meaning that fewer staff were needed to run the camp). The first mass transport of prisoners arrived on 14th June. 75 20 May 1940 Death of Verner von Heidenstam, Swedish poet and novelist. Known for his works about the joy and beauty of his country. Winner of the 1916 Nobel Prize for Literature. 75 24 May 1940 World War II – Operation Alphabet – the Allied evacuation of Norway at (to 8 June) Narvik. 75 24 May 1940 Birth of Joseph Brodsky, Russian-born American poet, essayist and educator. Expelled from the Soviet Union in 1972. Winner of the 1987 Nobel Prize for Literature. (Died 1996.) 75 25 May 1940 The 1939–40 Golden Gate International Exposition opened for its second (and final) season in San Francisco, California, USA. 75 26 May 1940 World War II – the Battle of Dunkirk (France). Result: Allied evacuation – (to 4 June) see below. 75 27 May 1940 World War II – the Dunkirk Evacuation. Allied forces launched a massive (to 4 June) evacuation of troops from Dunkirk in France across the English Channel to England after they were cut off by approaching German forces. Nearly 340,000 soldiers were rescued in a hastily assembled fleet of 800 boats. 75 28 May 1940 World War II: Belgium surrendered to Germany. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 88 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 75 28 May 1940 World War II: Norwegian, French, Polish and British forces recaptured the city of Narvik in Norway from Germany. This is considered the first Allied infantry victory of the war. 75 29 May 1940 The Vought F4U Corsair made its first flight. The U.S. fighter-bomber plane was active in WWII and the Korean War. 12,500+ produced. 70 1 May 1945 German radio announced the death of Adolf Hitler. (It reported that he had died a hero’s death fighting to his last breath. The true nature of his death – suicide – emerged on 20th June.) 70 1 May 1945 World War II – Operation Chowhound (Netherlands). The U.S. Air Force (to 8th) dropped thousands of tons of food into German-occupied Netherlands to help feed starving civilians. (See also 29th April.) 70 1 May 1945 World War II: Trieste in Italy was liberated by Yugoslav partisans. 70 1 May 1945 Death of Joseph Goebbels, German politician; Nazi Minister of Propaganda (1933–45). He was deeply anti-Semitic and responsible for presenting a positive image of the Nazi regime to the German people. He served as Chancellor of Germany for 1 day following Hitler’s death, then he and his wife killed their children and committed suicide. 70 2 May 1945 World War II: the Battle of Berlin, Germany ended; Allied victory which led to the surrender of all German forces outside Berlin by 8th–9th May, and the end of the war in Europe. 70 2 May 1945 World War II: Soviet forces took control of the German Reichstag in Berlin and raised the Soviet flag. 70 2 May 1945 World War II: German forces in Italy surrendered unconditionally and laid down their arms. 70 2 May 1945 Holocaust: Wöbbelin concentration camp in Germany was liberated by U.S. Forces. 70 2 May 1945 World War II: Allied forces captured Rangoon, Burma from the Japanese. 70 2 May 1945 Death of Martin Bormann, prominent German Nazi official, Hitler’s ? private secretary. (For many years after WWII he was rumoured to have survived and fled to South America, where there were several unconfirmed sightings. But his remains were found in Berlin in 1972 and positively identified as his by DNA testing in 1998.) 70 3 May 1945 World War II: 3 German ships (Cap Arcona, Thielbek and Deutschland) were sunk by the British RAF who believed they were carrying SS personnel to Norway. In fact they were prison ships transporting thousands of inmates from Neuengamme concentration camp. (The Germans may have been planning to scuttle the ships with the inmates still on board.) 70 5 May 1945 World War II: Prague Uprising, Czechoslovakia. The Czech resistance (to 8th) attempted to liberate Prague from the Nazis. The uprising ended in a ceasefire and the liberation of Prague when WWII ended on the 8th. 70 5 May 1945 World War II: a Japanese balloon bomb exploded in eastern Oregon, USA, killing 6 people (the only WWII casualties in the contiguous U.S. States). 70 5 May 1945 Holocaust: Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp in Germany was (to 6th) liberated by the U.S. Army.

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Ann. Date Event 70 6 May 1945 World War II – the Prague Offensive (Czechoslovakia); Allied victory. (to 11th) This was the last major battle on the Eastern Front and the last major Soviet operation of the war. 70 6 May 1945 World War II: Nazi German military leader Hermann Göring was captured by the U.S. Army. (During the Nuremberg Trials he was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death, but he committed suicide on 15th Oct 1946 – the night before he was due to be executed.) 70 6 May 1945 World War II: Axis Sally (real name Mildred Gillars) made her last German propaganda radio broadcast to U.S. troops stationed in Europe. (She was arrested in Mar 1946 and convicted of treason in Mar 1949. She was fined $10,000 and served 12 years in prison.) 70 7 May 1945 World War II: Germany signed the official unconditional surrender document in Reims, France (and again the following day in Berlin, Germany – see below), ending the war in Europe. The document stated that all hostilities would cease as of 12:01am on 9th May. 70 8 May 1945 World War II: VE day (Victory in Europe) – celebrated as a public holiday. 70 8 May 1945 World War II: Soviet leader Joseph Stalin refused to recognise Germany’s surrender document signed in Reims, France the previous day, so a second surrender ceremony was held in Berlin, Germany. 70 8 May 1945 Setif massacre, Algeria. French police opened fire on demonstrators, leading to rioting and reprisal attacks in which approximately 6,000 people were killed. (Estimates range from 1,020 to 45,000.) 70 9 May 1945 World War II: Victory Day in the Soviet Union. 70 9 May 1945 World War II: the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey were liberated by British forces. (German forces on Alderney surrendered on 16th.) 70 9 May 1945 World War II: Vidkun Quisling, Minister President of Norway, was arrested after turning himself in to police. (In Sept he was convicted of embezzlement, murder and treason, and he was executed on 24th Oct.) 70 11 May 1945 World War II: the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill was badly damaged by Japanese kamikazes off the coast of Okinawa. 346 servicemen were killed, 43 were declared missing, and 264 were wounded. (The ship resumed active service in September after repairs.) 70 12 May 1945 Birth of Alan Ball, British football player and manager. The youngest member of England’s World Cup-winning team in 1966. (Died 2007.) 70 14 May 1945 World War II – the Battle of Poljana, Yugoslavia (now in Slovenia); Anglo- (to 15th) Partisan victory. Considered to be the final battle of WWII in Europe. 70 23 May 1945 World War II: German President Karl Dönitz was arrested by British forces, and the German Government was dissolved. (Following the Nuremberg Trials he was imprisoned for 10 years.) 70 23 May 1945 Death of Heinrich Himmler, German Nazi officer, head of the SS. (Suicide while in British custody following WWII.) 70 24 May 1945 World War II: the USA dropped incendiary bombs on urban and industrial areas of Tokyo, Japan, south of the Imperial Palace. A second massive firebomb raid on 26th May targeted the same area.

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Ann. Date Event 70 25 May 1945 British science fiction writer Arthur C. Clark privately circulated a document in which he proposed using geostationary satellites as telecommunications relays. (It was first made public in the Oct 1945 issue of Wireless World magazine. The first commercial geostationary communications satellite, Intelsat I, was launched in April 1965.) 70 28 May 1945 World War II: British-born Nazi propaganda broadcaster Lord Haw-Haw (William Joyce) was captured by the British Army near the Danish border and taken to Britain to face trial. (He was convicted of treason and sentenced to death on 19th Sept, and was hanged on 3rd Jan 1946.) 65 1 May 1950 American poet Gwendolyn Brooks became the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize. 65 3 May 1950 The British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal was launched. (It was the fourth ship to bear the name, went into service in Feb 1955 and was decommissioned in Feb 1979. A fifth Ark Royal was launched in 1981 and decommissioned in 2011.) 65 5 May 1950 Coronation of King Rama IX of Thailand. 65 9 May 1950 French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented his proposal for the creation of an organised Europe. The Schuman Declaration is now celebrated annually in the European Union as ‘Europe Day’. 65 9 May 1950 American writer and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard published his book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. 65 13 May 1950 The first Formula One World Championship race was held, at Silverstone, England. (This race is also known as the 1950 British Grand Prix.) 65 26 May 1950 Fuel rationing ended in the UK. 65 30 May 1950 The Royal Canadian Mounted Police schooner St. Roch arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, becoming the first ship to completely circumnavigate North America. (It completed the route in several separate voyages.) 60 3 May 1955 Birth of David Hookes, Australian cricketer, coach and commentator. (Died 2004.) 60 4 May 1955 Death of Louis-Charles Bréguet, pioneering French aircraft builder and designer whose planes set several world records. Founder of Air France. 60 4 May 1955 Death of George Enescu (also spelled Georges Enesco), Romanian violist, composer and teacher. 60 5 May 1955 West Germany was granted the full authority of a sovereign state, though it didn’t become fully sovereign until March 1991. 60 9 May 1955 West Germany joined NATO. 60 9 May 1955 The first TV appearance of Jim Henson and the Muppets, in the series Sam and Friends, broadcast in the Washington D.C. area of the USA. 60 9 May 1955 Birth of Kevin Peter Hall, American film and television actor. Noted for his height (7' 2”) which often led to him playing monsters. Best known for his roles in the films Predator and Predator 2 and the TV series Harry and the Hendersons. (Died 1991.) 60 9 May 1955 Death of Kate Booth, British Salvation Army officer. Eldest daughter of Salvation Army founders William and Catherine Booth. She spread the Salvation Army to Europe, North America and Australia. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 91 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 10 May 1955 Death of Tommy Burns, Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion. 60 11 May 1955 Giovanni Gronchi became President of Italy. 60 14 May 1955 The Warsaw Pact was established – a Soviet-led mutual defence treaty between eight communist European states during the Cold War. (It was disestablished in Dec 1991.) 60 15 May 1955 The Austrian State Treaty was signed, re-establishing Austria as an independent sovereign state. (Effective from 27th July.) 60 15 May 1955 The first successful ascent of Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest mountain, by French climbers Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy. 60 16 May 1955 Death of James Agee, American poet, novelist, screenwriter and film critic. One of the most influential U.S. film critics of the 1930s–40s. 60 17 May 1955 Death of Leslie Hylton, West Indian cricketer and murderer. The only Test cricketer to have been executed. 60 18 May 1955 Partition of Vietnam: Operation Passage to Freedom ended and the border between North Vietnam and South Vietnam was sealed. (The USA and France transported up to 1 million civilians and soldiers from North Vietnam to South Vietnam during the 300-day operation.) 60 18 May 1955 The Indian Parliament passed the Hindu Marriage Act (1955), which included provision for Hindu divorce for the first time. 60 18 May 1955 Death of Mary McLeod Bethune, American educator, civil rights activist and presidential advisor to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Founder of Bethune- Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. 60 25 May 1955 The first successful ascent of Kangchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain, by British climbers Joe Brown and George Band. 60 26 May 1955 British General Election. The Conservative Party increased its majority and party leader Anthony Eden remained Prime Minister after taking over from Winston Churchill in April. 60 26 May 1955 Death of Alberto Ascari, Italian racing driver. Formula 1 world champion (1952 and 1953). Killed in a crash while testing at Monza. 60 30 May 1955 Sa`id al-Mufti became Prime Minister of Jordan following Tawfik Abu al-Huda’s resignation. 60 31 May 1955 The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the desegregation of schools ‘with all deliberate speed’. 50 1 May 1965 Death of Spike Jones, American musician and bandleader (Spike Jones and His City Slickers). Known for his satirical/novelty arrangements of popular songs. 50 1 May 1965 Chinese Civil War – the Battle of Dong-Yin (a naval conflict); both sides claimed victory. 50 3 May 1965 Vietnam War: the first major U.S. Army ground combat unit arrived in (or 7th?) South Vietnam. 50 3 May 1965 Cambodia broke off diplomatic relations with the USA after relations deteriorated. (Re-established July 1969.) 50 3 May 1965 Death of Howard Spring, British novelist (Shabby Tiger, My Son, My Son!, Fame is the Spur, and more). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 92 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 9 May 1965 The Soviet Union launched Luna 5. It was intended to be the first space- craft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, but due to a guidance system failure and engine failure it crashed into the lunar surface on 12th May. 50 9 May 1965 Death of Leopold Figl, Chancellor of Austria (1945–53). 50 10 May 1965 Vietnam War – the Battle of Song Be; South Vietnamese/U.S. Victory. (to 15th)

50 11 May 1965 Bengal Cyclone I, India. (A second cyclone hit the same region on 1st June. The two cyclones killed a total of about 47,000 people.) 50 12 May 1965 West Germany and Israel established diplomatic relations. (Most Arab nations immediately broke off relations with West Germany as a result.) 50 14 May 1965 Death of Frances Perkins, U.S. Secretary of Labor (1933–45). The first woman to be appointed to a U.S. cabinet post. 50 15 May 1965 The Canadian Football League Players’ Association was established. 50 16 May 1965 SpaghettiOs first went on sale in the USA. 50 19 May 1965 journalist, playwright and critic. One of the major Polish writers of the 20th century. Best known for her 4-volume novel Nights and Days. 50 20 May 1965 The British Government announced that police would be armed with tear gas guns and grenades for use against armed or dangerous individuals. (Tear gas was used in the Northern Ireland Troubles of the 1970s, and CS gas was used against rioters on the British mainland in 1981, but it has rarely been used since.) 50 21 May 1965 Death of Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, British aircraft designer and engineer. 50 22 May 1965 Death of Christopher Stone, the first disc jockey in the UK (1927). 50 23 May 1965 Death of David Smith, American abstract expressionist sculptor. Known for his large, geometric steel sculptures. 50 28 May 1965 Vietnam War – the Battle of Ba Gia; Viet Cong victory. (to 31st) 40 7 May 1975 U.S. President Gerald Ford announced that the Vietnam Era had ended. 40 16 May 1975 Sikkim became a state of India following a referendum, and its monarchy was abolished. 40 19 May 1975 Junko Tabei of Japan became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. 40 20 May 1975 Death of Dame Barbara Hepworth, influential British modernist sculptor. 40 21 May 1975 The Stammheim Trial began in Stuttgart, Germany. 4 members of the Red Army Faction (also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang) were charged with murder and forming a terrorist organisation. (One defendant committed suicide in prison during the trial. The other three were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.) 40 27 May 1975 Dibble’s Bridge coach crash, Hebden, North Yorkshire, England. 32 people were killed and 13 injured when a coach’s brakes failed on a steep hill. (This remains the worst road accident in the UK, by fatalities.) 40 28 May 1975 The Economic Community of West African States was founded. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 93 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 30 May 1975 The European Space Agency (ESA) was founded when the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) merged with the European Launch Development Organisation (ELDO). 30 1 May 1985 U.S. President Ronald Reagan announced an embargo against Nicaragua, prohibiting all trade between the two countries in an attempt to undermine the Sandanista government. (Embargo lifted March 1990.) 30 1 May 1985 Death of Denise Robins, prolific British romantic novelist and short story writer. Also wrote under the pen names Denise Chesterton, Hervey Hamilton, Francesca Wright, Ashley French, Harriet Gray and Julia Kane. First President of the Romantic Novelists’ Association (1960–66). 30 5 May 1985 Death of Sir Donald Bailey, British civil engineer who invented the Bailey bridge, a portable, pre-fabricated truss bridge used extensively by the British and U.S. during WWII. 30 8 May 1985 Death of Theodore Sturgeon, American science fiction writer and critic. 30 11 May 1985 Bradford City stadium fire, England. 56 football fans were killed and at least 265 injured when a flash fire swept through the main stand during a match against Lincoln City. 30 11 May 1985 Death of Chester Gould, American cartoonist who created the Dick Tracy comic strip. 30 12 May 1985 Amy Eilberg of Pennsylvania, USA became the first female rabbi to be ordained in Conservative Judaism. 30 13 May 1985 Police armed with explosives stormed the headquarters of the radical group MOVE, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 11 members of the group were killed, including the group’s leader (2 members survived). 60 other homes were destroyed when the entire city block burned down, leaving 250 people homeless. 30 16 May 1985 Death of Margaret Hamilton, American actress. Best known for her role as the Wicked Witch of the West in the film The Wizard of Oz. 30 20 May 1985 Radio Martí, a U.S. Government-funded Spanish-language radio station, began broadcasting anti-Castro propaganda to Cuba. (In March 1990 it also launched a TV station.) 30 22 May 1985 Death of Wolfgang Reitherman, German-born American animator and director. Known for his work on numerous Walt Disney animated feature films and shorts. 30 24 May 1985 Bangladesh was hit by a tropical cyclone that killed over 10,000 people. 30 29 May 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster, Brussels, Belgium. 39 football fans were crushed to death during rioting at the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus. (All English football clubs were subsequently banned from playing in European competitions until 1990.) 30 31 May 1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak. A series of 41 tornadoes hit Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, USA, and Ontario, Canada, killing 76 people and injuring hundreds. 25 2 May 1990 Death of David Rappaport, British dwarf actor, best known for his role in the film Time Bandits. (Suicide.)

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Ann. Date Event 25 3 May 1990 Death of Pimen I, Patriarch of Moscow, head of the Russian Orthodox Church (1971–90). 25 4 May 1990 Latvia declared independence from the Soviet Union. (Independence was officially restored on 21st Aug 1991.) 25 8 May 1990 Death of Luigi Nono, prominent Italian avant-garde composer. 25 9 May 1990 Death of Pauline Frederick, pioneering American journalist and radio/TV correspondent. 25 10 May 1990 Death of Walker Percy, award-winning American novelist and non-fiction writer (The Moviegoer, The Last Gentleman, and more). 25 16 May 1990 In an attempt to calm fears over BSE (‘mad cow disease’) in the UK, Agriculture Minister John Selwyn Gummer tried to get his daughter to eat a beefburger in front of the media. She refused, so he ate it himself. 25 16 May 1990 Death of Sammy Davis, Jr., American singer, dancer, actor & entertainer. 25 16 May 1990 Death of Jim Henson, American puppeteer, film director and television producer. Creator of the Muppets. 25 17 May 1990 The World Health Organisation (WHO) remove homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases. 17th May is now marked as the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. 25 18 May 1990 Death of Jill Ireland, British film and television actress. Wife of the actors David McCallum and Charles Bronson. 25 19 May 1990 East Germany and West Germany signed a treaty agreeing to merge their economies and make the West German mark the sole legal currency in both countries by 2nd July. (The merged economy came into effect at midnight on 1st July. The two countries reunified on 3rd October.) 25 20 May 1990 The first post-Communist elections were held in Romania. Ion Iliescu was elected president. 25 21 May 1990 Death of The Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce, record-breaking British racing driver, powerboat racer, aviator and businesswoman. 25 22 May 1990 North Yemen and South Yemen unified to form the Republic of Yemen. 25 22 May 1990 Microsoft released Windows 3.0 – the first widely successful version. 25 22 May 1990 Death of Rocky Graziano, American world middleweight boxing champion (1947–48). 25 22 May 1990 Death of Max Wall, British music hall, stage, film and television comedian (or 21st?) and actor. Acclaimed for his serious roles as well as his comic talents. 25 28 May 1990 Death of Giorgio Manganelli, Italian avant-garde novelist, essayist, translator and literary critic. 25 28 May 1990 Death of Hussein Onn, Prime Minister of Malaysia (1976–81). (or 29th?) 25 29 May 1990 Boris Yeltsin was elected President of Russia. 25 30 May 1990 France banned the importation of British beef and live cattle because of fears over BSE (‘mad cow disease’). 20 1 May 1995 The World Health Organisation (WHO) published its first annual survey of global health. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 95 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 1 May 1995 Croatian War of Independence – Operation Flash; Croatian victory. (to 3rd) Croatia regained territory from the self-proclaimed Republic of Serbian Krajina. 20 2 May 1995 Death of Sir Michael Hordern, British stage, film and TV actor and voice- over artist. Known for his wide range, distinctive voice, wry humour and 60+ year career. Narrated the BBC TV children’s series Paddington. 20 4 May 1995 Death of Louis Krasner, Ukrainian-born American violinist and teacher. 20 4 May 1995 Death of Lewis Thompson Preston, American banking executive. CEO of J. P. Morgan, President of the World Bank (1991–95). 20 5 May 1995 Death of Mikhail Botvinnik, Russian chess master. 3x world champion. 20 5 May 1995 Death of Sir Alastair Pilkington, British industrialist who developed the float glass process used to manufacture high quality flat glass. Chairman of Pilkington Glass (1973–85). Director of the Bank of England. 20 7 May 1995 Death of María Luisa Bemberg, Argentine film director and feminist. Latin America’s foremost female director. 20 8 May 1995 Death of Marshall Royal, American saxophonist and clarinettist. (or 9th?) Best known for his work with Count Basie’s band. 20 8 May 1995 Death of Teresa Teng, Taiwanese pop singer. Immensely popular throughout East Asia. 20 10 May 1995 More than 100 workers were killed at Anglo-American Corp’s Vaal Reefs gold mine in South Africa when an underground train plunged down a shaft and crashed onto an elevator. 20 10 May 1995 Terry Lynn Nichols was formally charged with being an accomplice in the Oklahoma City bombing of 19th April. (In Dec 1997 he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to life imprisonment.) 20 10 May 1995 The British Minister for Northern Ireland, Michael Ancram, met representatives of Sinn Fein – their first formal meeting in 23 years. 20 10 May 1995 Death of Jimmy Raney, influential American jazz guitarist. 20 11 May 1995 An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus was confirmed in Zaire. 317 people became infected, of whom 245 died. 20 12 May 1995 Death of Giorgio Belladonna, Italian bridge player. Winner of 10 European titles and 16 world championships 20 13 May 1995 British mountaineer Alison Hargreaves became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest unaided (i.e. without the use of bottled oxygen or Sherpas). (She died in August when she was hit by a storm while attempting to climb K2.)

20 14 May 1995 Gedhun Choekyi Nyima (age 6) was named the 11th Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama. (3 days later he was detained by Chinese authorities and has not been seen since. On 8th Dec China named Gyaincain Norbu (age 5) the 11th Panchen Lama, but most Tibetan Buddhists refuse to accept him.) 20 14 May 1995 Death of Christian B. Anfinsen, American biochemist. Joint winner of the 1972 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his study of the enzyme ribonuclease. 20 15 May 1995 Death of Eric Porter, British stage, film and television actor (The Jewel in the Crown, The Forsyte Saga). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 96 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 16 May 1995 Death of Lola Flores, Spanish singer, flamenco dancer and film actress. 20 16 May 1995 Death of Ragnhild Hatton, Norwegian-born British historian, writer and educator. Best known for her biographies of King Charles XII of Sweden, Louis XIV of France and George I of England. 20 17 May 1995 Jacques Chirac became President of France. 20 17 May 1995 Alain Juppé became Prime Minister of France. 20 17 May 1995 Death of Hector (‘Toe’) Blake, Canadian ice hockey player and coach. 20 18 May 1995 Death of Elisha Cook Jr., American character actor, best known for playing cowardly villains – most notably Wilmer in The Maltese Falcon. 20 18 May 1995 Death of Alexander Godunov, Russian-born American ballet dancer. ? (Found dead on this date, though he had not been seen for some days.) 20 18 May 1995 Death of Elizabeth Montgomery, American film and television actress. Best known for her role as Samantha in the TV series Bewitched. 20 21 May 1995 U.S. President Bill Clinton closed the two-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House as a security measure following the Oklahoma City bombing. (Pedestrians and cyclists were permitted but all motor vehicles were banned. The closure was made permanent following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.) 20 21 May 1995 Death of Les Aspin, American politician. U.S. Secretary of Defense (1993–94). 20 24 May 1995 Death of Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister (1964–70, 1974–76). 20 26 May 1995 Death of Friz Freleng, American cartoon animator, director and producer. Known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series. Created or developed characters including Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Sylvester and Tweety Pie, Yosemite Sam and Speedy Gonzales. 20 27 May 1995 American Superman actor Christopher Reeve was paralysed from the neck down when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition in Virginia. (Died 2004.) 20 28 May 1995 An earthquake destroyed the town of Neftegorsk on Sakhalin Island, eastern Russia, killing approximately 2,000 people. 20 28 May 1995 Death of Henning Kronstam, Danish ballet dancer. Artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet. 20 28 May 1995 Death of Jean Muir, award-winning British dress designer. 20 29 May 1995 Death of Margaret Chase Smith, American politician. The first woman to serve in both houses of the U.S. Congress. 20 30 May 1995 Death of Lofty England, British engineer and businessman. Chairman and chief executive of Jaguar Cars. Manager of the Jaguar sports car racing team during the 1950s. 15 2 May 2000 The U.S. Government stopped deliberately degrading the Global Positioning System (GPS) signals available to the public, immediately making the system around 10 times more accurate. 15 3 May 2000 The sport of geocaching began, the day after the more accurate GPS system was made available to the public (see above). The first cache was hidden by Dave Ulmer in Beavercreek, Oregon, USA. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 97 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 15 4 May 2000 Ken Livingstone became the first mayor of London.

15 7 May 2000 Vladimir Putin became President of Russia.

15 7 May 2000 Death of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., American film actor (The Mark of Zorro, The Three Musketeers, The Thief of Bagdad), television producer, and highly decorated WWII naval officer. 15 12 May 2000 The Tate Modern art gallery opened in London.

15 17 May 2000 Two Royal Marine commandos, Alan Chambers and Charlie Paton, became the first Britons to reach the geographic North Pole without outside support. 15 17 May 2000 Death of Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury (1974–80).

15 20 May 2000 British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie celebrated the birth of their fourth child, Leo. 15 21 May 2000 Death of Barbara Cartland, British author of over 700 romantic novels. 15 21 May 2000 Death of Sir John Gielgud, British actor, producer and director. One of the greatest Shakespearean actors of his generation. 15 25 May 2000 Liberation Day in Lebanon. Israel withdrew its troops from South Lebanon, ending 22 years of occupation. 10 1 May 2005 Death of Kenneth Clark, American psychologist and civil rights activist. Best known for his research on the impact of racial segregation on children, carried out with his wife Mamie. 10 2 May 2005 Death of Wee Kim Wee, President of Singapore (1985–93). 10 3 May 2005 Ibrahim al-Jaafari became Prime Minister of Iraq. 10 4 May 2005 Death of David Hackworth, U.S. Army officer and prominent military journalist. Known for his harsh criticism of U.S. strategy and policies. 10 7 May 2005 Death of Peter W. Rodino, American politician. Served as a congressman for 40 years and chaired the House Judiciary Committee which oversaw the impeachment hearings of U.S. President Richard Nixon. 10 10 May 2005 The national Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, Germany was officially dedicated. (Its official name is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It opened to the public on 12th May.) 10 13 May 2005 Andijan Massacre, Uzbekistan. Government troops fired into a crowd of protesters, killing 187 people (official figure). Other reports estimate that the number killed was ‘several hundred’, and perhaps as many as 1,500. 10 13 May 2005 Death of George Dantzig, American mathematician. Best known for developing the simplex algorithm and for his work on linear programming. He also made important contributions to operations research, computer science, economics and statistics. 10 16 May 2005 Kuwait granted women the right to vote and stand for local and parliamentary elections. (Women had originally been granted the right to vote in 1985, but it was quickly suspended.) 10 17 May 2005 Death of Frank Gorshin, American stage, film and television actor, comedian and impressionist. Best known for his role as the Riddler in the 1960s TV series Batman. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 98 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 19 May 2005 Death of Henry Corden, Canadian-born American stage, film and TV actor and voice artist. Best known as the voice of the cartoon character Fred Flintstone (from 1977 after the original actor died). He also provided voices for many other cartoon characters, appeared in films including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and The Ten Commandments, and many TV series. 10 20 May 2005 Death of Paul Ricoeur, prize-winning French philosopher. 10 20 May 2005 Death of William Seawell, U.S. Air Force officer and chairman of Pan Am. 10 21 May 2005 The world’s tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka, opened at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, USA. It is also the world’s second- fastest roller coaster. Height: 456 ft (139 m), Speed: 128 mph (206 km/h). 10 22 May 2005 Death of Thurl Ravenscroft, American voice actor. Best known as the voice of Tony the Tiger in TV commercials for Frosties (UK) / Frosted Flakes (USA). 10 25 May 2005 Death of Sunil Dutt, Indian film actor, producer, director, social activist and politician. 10 25 May 2005 Death of Graham Kennedy, Australian actor, entertainer, talk show host and game show host. Known as the ‘King of Television’. 10 26 May 2005 Death of Eddie Albert, American stage, film and TV actor, and social and environmental activist. Known for his roles in the films Roman Holiday and The Heartbreak Kid and the TV series Green Acres and Falcon Crest. 10 26 May 2005 Death of Chico Carrasquel, Venezuelan baseball player. The first Latin American to play in a Major League Baseball All-Star game. 10 26 May 2005 Death of Ruth Laredo, American classical pianist. 10 29 May 2005 In a referendum to approve the Constitution of the European Union, French voters rejected it. (Dutch voters also rejected it on 1st June. It was eventually abandoned and replaced by the Lisbon Treaty.) 10 29 May 2005 Death of Hamilton Naki, black South African medical technician who assisted heart surgeon Christiaan Barnard. Recognised for his surgical skills and teaching ability despite having no formal medical education. 10 29 May 2005 Death of George Rochberg, American composer. 10 30 May 2005 Death of Fazal Mahmood, Pakistani cricketer. 10 31 May 2005 Mark Felt, the former Associate Director of the FBI, admitted that he was the Watergate Scandal whistleblower known as ‘Deep Throat’ who provided information to the Washington Post that led to the downfall of U.S. President Richard Nixon.

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Ann. Date Event 800 1 Jun 1215 Mongol Invasions – the Battle of Zhongdu (Beijing, China) ended. The Mongols captured the city, massacred the inhabitants, and continued their conquest of China. 800 15 Jun 1215 King John signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede in England. 400 3 Jun 1615 finally ended the siege. 400 20 Jun 1615 Birth of Salvator Rosa, Italian Baroque artist, printmaker, poet, actor and (or 21 Jul?) musician. 200 1 Jun 1815 Birth of Otto, first King of modern Greece (1832–62). 200 1 Jun 1815 Death of Louis Alexandre Berthier, French soldier, marshal of France, chief of staff of Napoleon’s armies. 200 1 Jun 1815 Death of James Gillray, British caricaturist and printmaker. 200 8 Jun 1815 The German Confederation was created as 39 states united under the terms of the Congress of Vienna (see 9th June below). 200 8 Jun 1815 Birth of Samuel Hirsch, German-born American religious philosopher and rabbi. A major advocate of Reform Judaism. 200 9 Jun 1815 The Congress of Vienna ended following the Napoleonic Wars. Europe’s political map was redrawn in an attempt to forge lasting peace. 200 9 Jun 1815 The Kingdom of Poland (also known as Congress Poland) was established by the Congress of Vienna (see above). 200 11 Jun 1815 Birth of Julia Margaret Cameron, Indian-born British photographer. One of the greatest portrait photographers of the 19th century. 200 15 Jun 1815 Birth of Hablot Knight Browne, (‘Phiz’), British artist. (or 11 Jun Best known for illustrating the novels of Charles Dickens, as well as those or 12 Jul?) by Charles Lever and Harrison Ainsworth. 200 16 Jun 1815 Napoleonic Wars – the Waterloo Campaign – the Battle of Quatre-Bras (now in Belgium). A tactical draw, but a strategic victory for the the French who prevented the Allies from coming to the aid of the Prussians at the Battle of Ligny (see below). 200 16 Jun 1815 Napoleonic Wars – the Waterloo Campaign – the Battle of Ligny (now in Belgium); French victory. Napoleon’s final victory. 200 18 Jun 1815 Napoleonic Wars – the Battle of Waterloo, Netherlands (now Belgium); Coalition victory. The French Emperor Napoleon was defeated. He abdicated as emperor and was sent into exile on the island of Saint Helena, where he remained for the rest of his life. 200 19 Jun 1815 Birth of Cornelius Krieghoff, popular Dutch-born Canadian artist. Best known for his landscapes. 200 22 Jun 1815 French Emperor Napoleon abdicated following his forces’ defeat at the Battle of Waterloo (see 18th above). Succeeded by Louis XVIII. 200 30 Jun 1815 The Second Barbary War ended. U.S. naval hero Stephen Decatur ended attacks on American ships by Barbary pirates. 175 2 Jun 1840 Birth of Thomas Hardy, British novelist and poet (Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure, and more). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 100 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 175 7 Jun 1840 Death of Frederick William III, King of Prussia (1797–1840). 175 20 Jun 1840 American inventor Samuel Morse was granted a U.S. patent for his electro-magnetic telegraph system. 150 2 Jun 1865 American Civil War: Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department, surrendered to Union forces in Galveston, Texas. 150 3 Jun 1865 Birth of George V, King of the United Kingdom (1910–36). 150 5 Jun 1865 The first safe deposit vault opened in New York City, USA. 150 6 Jun 1865 Death of William Quantrill, Confederate guerilla leader during the U.S. Civil War. 150 8 Jun 1865 Death of Sir Joseph Paxton, British landscape gardener, designer of conservatories and greenhouses, and politician. Best known for designing the Crystal Palace in London. 150 9 Jun 1865 Birth of Carl Nielsen, Danish composer, violinist and conductor. Regarded as Denmark’s greatest composer. 150 10 Jun 1865 Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde was first performed, in Munich, Germany. 150 10 Jun 1865 Birth of Frederick A. Cook, controversial American physician and explorer who claimed to have been the first to reach the North Pole and the summit of Mount McKinley. 150 13 Jun 1865 Birth of W(illiam) B(utler) Yeats, Irish poet and writer. Winner of the 1923 Nobel Prize for Literature. 150 17 Jun 1865 Death of Edmund Ruffin, American plantation owner and soil chemist (or 18th?) who helped restore fertility to Southern plantations. He was also a leading secessionist and advocate of slavery. 150 19 Jun 1865 Juneteenth (also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day). African American slaves in Texas were freed on this day, and the anniversary is now celebrated in most U.S. states. 150 19 Jun 1865 Birth of Alfred Hugenberg, German media magnate and prominent politician who aided Hitler’s rise to power. 150 22 Jun 1865 English cricketer W. G. Grace made his first class cricket debut at The Oval. 150 23 Jun 1865 American Civil War: the last Confederate general surrendered – Stand Watie, commander of the First Indian Brigade of the Army of the Trans- Mississippi. 150 24 Jun 1865 Birth of Robert Henri, influential American urban realist artist and (or 25th?) teacher. A leader of the Ashcan School and The Eight. 150 26 Jun 1865 Birth of Bernard Berenson, Lithuanian-born American art critic and historian. A specialist in the Italian Renaissance. Helped identify, attribute and value works by the Old Masters. 150 27 Jun 1865 Birth of Sir John Monash, Australian civil engineer and military commander who led the Australian army corps in France during WWI. 150 28 Jun 1865 American Civil War: the Army of the Potomac was disbanded. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 101 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 29 Jun 1865 Birth of William E. Borah, American lawyer and politician. Senator from Idaho. 1936 presidential candidate. Noted for his opposition to the USA joining the League of Nations and World Court following WWI, and was instrumental in the Senate’s rejection of it. 150 30 Jun 1865 8 conspirators in the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln were found guilty by a military tribunal. (4 were hanged on 7th July, 3 were sentenced to life imprisonment, and 1 was given a 6-year sentence. Among those hanged was Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the federal government.) 125 2 Jun 1890 The 1890 United States Census was taken. Returns were processed using Herman Hollerith’s tabulating machine and the work was completed in a year, whereas the 1880 census had taken 8 years. (Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine Company later merged with others to form IBM.) 125 16 Jun 1890 Birth of Stan Laurel, British comedy film actor, writer and director (Laurel and Hardy). 125 27 Jun 1890 George Dixon became the first black world boxing champion and the first Canadian-born world boxing champion. 100 4 Jun 1915 Birth of Modibo Keïta, first President of Mali (1960–68). 100 5 Jun 1915 Women in Denmark were granted the right to vote. 100 5 Jun 1915 Birth of Alfred Kazin, American writer and literary critic. 100 5 Jun 1915 Birth of Lancelot Ware, British barrister. Best known as the co-founder of Mensa (originally called the High IQ Club). 100 6 Jun 1915 Birth of Vincent Persichetti, American composer, pianist and teacher. Noted for his polyphonic style and integration of new ideas into his work. His many notable students included the composer Philip Glass. 100 9 Jun 1915 U.S. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned over President Woodrow Wilson’s handling of the Lusitania crisis. He was succeeded by Robert Lansing. 100 9 Jun 1915 Birth of Les Paul, influential American jazz, country and blues guitarist and inventor. Designer of one of the first solid-body electric guitars. Pioneered many recording innovations. 100 10 Jun 1915 Birth of Saul Bellow, Canadian-born American novelist. Winner of the 1976 Nobel Prize for Literature and the Pulitzer Prize. 100 11 Jun 1915 Birth of David Kindersley, British stone letter-carver and typeface designer. His work can be seen on many churches and public buildings in Britain, including the main gates of the British Library in London. 100 12 Jun 1915 Birth of Christopher Mayhew, Baron Mayhew of Wimbledon, British Labour politician and Liberal peer. 100 13 Jun 1915 Birth of Don Budge, American tennis player. The first player to win the Grand Slam (1938). 100 15 Jun 1915 Birth of Thomas H(uckle) Weller, American virologist. Joint winner of the 1954 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for cultivating the polio virus in tissue cultures. This enabled it to be studied in a test tube and led to Jonas Salk’s development of the polio vaccine. 100 16 Jun 1915 Birth of Mariano Rumor, Prime Minister of Italy (1968–70, 1973–74). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 102 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 16 Jun 1915 Birth of John Tukey, American statistician who coined the computing terms ‘software’ and ‘bit’ (binary digit), and developed the FFT (fast Fourier transform) algorithm which is widely used in many applications. 100 17 Jun 1915 The League to Enforce Peace was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, with former U.S. President William H. Taft as its first president. (It was dissolved in 1923.) 100 18 Jun 1915 Birth of Red Adair, American oil well fire-fighter. 100 19 Jun 1915 The American battleship USS Arizona was launched. (It was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.) 100 19 Jun 1915 Birth of Julius Schwartz, American comic book and science fiction magazine editor and agent. Best known for his work at DC Comics. 100 19 Jun 1915 Death of Sergey (also spelled Sergei) Taneyev, Russian composer, pianist, teacher and music theorist. Noted for his fastidiousness and diligence. 100 20 Jun 1915 Birth of Terence Young, British film director and screenwriter. Best known for directing the James Bond films Dr. No, From Russia with Love and Thunderball. 100 20 Jun 1915 Death of Emil Rathenau, German industrialist. Founder of AEG. A leading figure in the early European electrical industry. 100 21 Jun 1915 The U.S. Supreme Court declared the ‘grandfather clause’ exemption to literary tests unconstitutional in states which required voters to be literate. This was because it favoured white voters over blacks whose grandfathers had been slaves. (Guinn vs. United States.) 100 22 Jun 1915 The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) in New York City opened its first subway service. (The company later became the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation [BMT] – see 1st June 1940.) 100 23 Jun 1915 Birth of Dennis Price, British stage, film and television actor. Best known for his roles as Louis Mazzini in the film Kind Hearts and Coronets and Jeeves in the BBC TV series The World of Wooster. 100 24 Jun 1915 Birth of Norman Cousins, American political journalist, essayist and (or 1912?) editor of the Saturday Review (1942–72). 100 24 Jun 1915 Birth of Sir Fred Hoyle, British astronomer and science fiction author. 100 25 Jun 1915 Birth of Peter Lind Hayes, American stage, film, radio and television entertainer who often appeared with his wife, Mary Healy. 100 28 Jun 1915 Death of Victor Trumper, Australian cricketer. Noted for winning matches on wet surfaces that many people found unplayable. 100 29 Jun 1915 World War I – the Kamerun Campaign – the Battle of Ngaundere; Allied victory. 90 3 Jun 1925 The Goodyear airship Pilgrim made its first flight. It became the first Goodyear Blimp (i.e. used for promotional purposes rather than pleasure cruising) and was the first Goodyear airship to use helium. 90 6 Jun 1925 The Chrysler Corporation was founded in the USA. 90 10 Jun 1925 The United Church of Canada was established. 90 16 Jun 1925 Artek, the Soviet Union’s best-known Young Pioneer camp, was established in Crimea, Ukraine. (Now an international children’s centre.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 103 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 90 17 Jun 1925 The Geneva Protocol (The Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare) was signed in Geneva, Switzerland. (Effective from Feb 1928.) 90 19 Jun 1925 Birth of Charlie Drake, popular British slapstick comic and actor. Noted for his catchphrase ‘Hello, my darlings!’ (Died 2006.) 90 23 Jun 1925 The first successful ascent of Mount Logan, the highest mountain in Canada and the second-highest in North America, by an international team organised by the Alpine Club of Canada. 90 25 Jun 1925 Theodoros Pangalos became President/dictator of Greece after seizing power in a bloodless coup. 80 1 Jun 1935 Driving tests became compulsory for all new drivers in Britain. 80 1 Jun 1935 Birth of Reverend Ike, American clergyman who preached the concepts of prosperity and material satisfaction on his radio and TV shows and in books, magazines and videos – and became a multimillionaire. (Died 2009.) 80 2 Jun 1935 American baseball star Babe Ruth announced his retirement. 80 2 Jun 1935 Birth of Carol Shields, Pulitzer Prize-winning American-born Canadian writer. Best known for her novel The Stone Diaries. (Died 2003.) 80 6 Jun 1935 Death of Julian Byng, Viscount Byng, British field marshal, Governor- General of Canada (1921–26), Commissioner of London police (1928–31). 80 7 Jun 1935 Stanley Baldwin became British Prime Minister for the third time. 80 7 Jun 1935 Pierre Laval became Prime Minister of France for the second time (until Jan 1936). (He was also Prime Minister twice during the Vichy regime of WWII, for which he was convicted of treason and executed in 1945.) 80 10 Jun 1935 Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in Akron, Ohio, USA. 80 10 Jun 1935 The Ho-Umezu Agreement was signed by Japan and the Republic of China. The secret agreement gave Japan virtual control of the Chinese province of Hebei. 80 11 Jun 1935 American inventor Edwin Armstrong gave the first public demonstration of FM radio, in Alpine, New Jersey. 80 12 Jun 1935 The Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay ended. 80 13 Jun 1935 Birth of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, husband and wife environmental artists famous for wrapping large-scale natural and man-made structures in fabric and plastic. (Jeanne-Claude died in 2009.) 80 13 Jun 1935 Birth of Samak Sundaravej, Prime Minister of Thailand (2008). (Died 2009.) 80 21 Jun 1935 Birth of Françoise Sagan, French novelist, playwright and screenwriter. Best known for her novel Bonjour Tristesse. (Died 2004.) 80 23 Jun 1935 British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden attempted to broker a peace (to 24th) agreement to resolve the Abyssinia Crisis. (It failed. On 25th July Britain imposed an embargo on the sale of arms to Italy and Ethiopia, and on 3rd Oct the Second Italo-Ethiopian War broke out.) 80 24 Jun 1935 Death of Carlos Gardel, popular French-born Argentine tango singer and actor. (Killed in a plane crash in Colombia at the height of his career.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 104 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 25 Jun 1935 Diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Colombia were established for the first time. (Severed May 1948, re-established Jan 1968.) 80 27 Jun 1935 Death of Eugene Augustin Lauste, French inventor who made important contributions to the development of cinema. Best known for developing an early sound-on-film system. 80 28 Jun 1935 Birth of John Inman, British stage, film and television comedy actor, singer and pantomime dame. Best known for his role as Mr. Humphries in the sitcom Are You Being Served? (Died 2007.) 75 Jun 1940 A dramatic month in World War II. Main points include:

3rd The German Luftwaffe bombed Paris. 4th The evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk was completed. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill vowed that his forces ‘shall never surrender’. 5th The Battle of France began in earnest. 7th Norwegian King Haakon VII set up a government-in-exile in London. 8th The British aircraft carrier HMS Glorious and the destroyers HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent were sunk by German battleships in the Norwegian Sea. (The failure to mount an effective rescue operation was a huge embarrassment for the Royal Navy.) 9th The German 5th Armour Division occupied Rouen, France. 10th Norway surrendered to the Nazis. Italy declared war on France and Britain. Canada declared war on Italy. The North African Campaign (also called the Desert War) began. Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division became the first German unit to reach the English Channel during the Battle of France. The French Government evacuated from Paris and relocated to Bordeaux. 11th British forces bombed Genoa and Turin in Italy. The Siege of Malta began. (The entire nation was awarded the George Cross in April 1942 for its bravery during the siege.) 12th 13,000 British and French troops became trapped during the Battle of France and were forced to surrender at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. 14th German forces entered Paris. (Holocaust:) 728 Polish political prisoners from Tarnów became the first residents of Auschwitz concentration camp. 15th The Soviet Union invaded and occupied Lithuania. (to 22nd) Operation Ariel – Allied troops began evacuating France. 16th The Soviet Union invaded and occupied Estonia and Latvia. Philippe Pétain became Prime Minister of occupied France. France asked Germany for terms of surrender. British forces captured Fort Capuzzo, Libya from the Italians. (It was recaptured a few days later and changed hands several times.) 17th French government minister Charles de Gaulle (later President of France) relocated to Britain. On 18th he established himself as Leader of the Free French Forces. The British troopship RMT Lancastria was sunk by the German Luftwaffe near St. Nazaire, France, killing at least 4,000 people – the largest loss of life of a single British ship. 18th British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave his ‘Finest Hour’ speech to the House of Commons. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 105 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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75 22nd France surrendered to Germany; Vichy France was established. 24th France signed an armistice with Italy. 27th The Soviet Union invaded Romania. Germany began using the Enigma machine to encrypt messages. 28th Romania ceded Bessarabia (now Moldova) to the Soviet Union. 30th Germany invaded the Channel Islands, occupying them until May 1945. 75 1 Jun 1940 The Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation was sold to the City of New York, giving it full control of the entire New York City Subway system. 75 2 Jun 1940 Birth of Constantine II, last King of Greece (1964–73). 75 5 Jun 1940 The American Negro Theater was formed in Harlem, New York City. (It closed in 1949.) 75 8 Jun 1940 The discovery of element 93, neptunium, was announced by American physicists Edwin McMillan and Philip Abelson at the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory, California. 75 8 Jun 1940 Death of Frederick Shepherd Converse, American composer. 75 10 Jun 1940 Death of Marcus Garvey, Jamaican-born American civil rights leader who established the first major black nationalist movement in the USA. 75 16 Jun 1940 Death of Dubose Heyward, American novelist, playwright and poet. Best known for his novel Porgy, which was adapted into a highly successful stage play and film, and the opera Porgy and Bess (in collaboration with George and Ira Gershwin). 75 17 Jun 1940 Death of Sir Arthur Harden, British biochemist. Joint winner of the 1929 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his investigations of the fermentation of sugar and fermentative enzymes. 75 21 Jun 1940 Death of Hendrik Marsman, Dutch poet, writer and critic. (Ship torpedoed by a German U-boat while he was escaping to Britain.) 75 21 Jun 1940 Death of Édouard Vuillard, French artist and printmaker. A member of the Nabis group. 75 22 Jun 1940 At the All India Forward Bloc’s first conference in Nagpur, it declared itself a socialist political party. (This is considered the date on which the political party was founded.) 75 23 Jun 1940 Birth of Adam Faith, British singer and actor. (Died 2003.) 75 23 Jun 1940 Birth of Wilma Rudolph, American sprinter. The fastest woman in the world in the 1960s. The first American woman to win 3 track-and-field gold medals in a single Olympics (1960). (Died 1994.) 75 23 Jun 1940 Birth of Stuart Sutcliffe, Scottish-born musician and artist. Best known as the original bassist for The Beatles. (Died 1962.) 75 25 Jun 1940 Birth of Clint Warwick, British rock musician and singer. Best known as (or 1939?) the original bassist for The Moody Blues. (Died 2004.) 75 28 Jun 1940 The Alien Registration Act (the Smith Act) came into effect in the USA. It required all non-U.S. adult citizens to register with the government and be fingerprinted, and prohibited certain acts of subversion.

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Ann. Date Event 75 28 Jun 1940 Birth of Renato Pagliari, Italian singer (Renée and Renato). Best known for the song Save Your Love and for the Cornetto TV commercial. (Died 2009.) 75 28 Jun 1940 Death of Italo Balbo, Italian aviator and fascist leader. Marshal of the Italian air force. Governor-General of Libya. 75 29 Jun 1940 Death of Paul Klee, Swiss expressionist/surrealist artist and teacher. One of the major artists of the 20th century. 75 30 Jun 1940 The United States Fish and Wildlife Service was formed. 75 30 Jun 1940 The comic strip Brenda Starr, Reporter by Dale Messick was first published in the USA. (It ran until Jan 2011.) 70 5 Jun 1945 World War II: the Allied Control Council was established in Berlin, Germany to oversee the division of Germany into four occupation zones: American, British, French and Soviet. 70 7 Jun 1945 King Haakon VII and the Norwegian Royal Family returned to Norway after 5 years in exile. 70 7 Jun 1945 Benjamin Britten’s opera Peter Grimes was first performed, in London. 70 11 Jun 1945 The Franck Report was signed by several prominent nuclear physicists. It recommended that the USA should not use the atomic bomb against Japan. (U.S. President Harry S. Truman appointed a committee to examine the points made in the report, but it concluded that the bombing should go ahead, which it did in August.) 70 13 Jun 1945 World War II: Australian forces captured Brunei from the Japanese after 3 days of bombing and heavy fighting. 70 15 Jun 1945 The General Dutch Youth League (ANJV) was founded in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (It was dissolved in 2005.) 70 22 Jun 1945 World War II – the Battle of Okinawa ended after 82 days. This battle saw the highest number of casualties in the Pacific Theatre of the war, with more than 12,000 Allied forces, 110,000 Japanese forces, and 140,000 civilians killed. (Some sources give different figures.) 70 26 Jun 1945 The United Nations Charter was signed in San Francisco, California, USA by representatives of 50 countries. (The UN was established on 24th Oct.) 70 28 Jun 1945 The Provisional Government of National Unity was established in Poland by Polish Communists and the Soviet Union. (It was not recognised by the Polish government-in-exile.) 65 3 Jun 1950 The first successful ascent of Annapurna in the Himalayas, by a French expedition led by Maurice Herzog. This was the first successful ascent of a mountain over 8,000 metres. 65 8 Jun 1950 Jean Duvieusart became Prime Minister of Belgium (for 2 months). 65 8 Jun 1950 Sir Thomas Blamey became the only Australian to achieve the rank of field marshal. 65 17 Jun 1950 Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen signed a Collective Security Pact in Alexandria, Egypt. 65 17 Jun 1950 The first human kidney transplant was performed by Dr. Richard H. Lawler at the Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park, Chicago, USA. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 107 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 65 24 Jun 1950 Apartheid: South Africa passed the Group Areas Act. It established separate residential and business sections in urban areas for the different racial groups, and prohibited non-whites from living in the most- developed areas. (Effective from 30th March 1951.) 65 25 Jun 1950 Korean War. North Korean and Soviet troops invaded South Korea. (to 27 Jul They were successfully repelled in 1953 with help from the USA, and the 1953) Korean Demilitarised Zone was established at the border. 65 27 Jun 1950 Korean War: the USA entered the war following a UN Security Council recommendation that member nations should help South Korea. 65 28 Jun 1950 Korean War: North Korean forces captured Seoul, capital of South Korea. 60 1 Jun 1955 Tunisian independence leader Habib Bourguiba was released from detention. (He had been arrested in Jan 1952 after calling for resistance and insurrection. He became Prime Minister in April 1956 and President in July 1957.) 60 1 Jun 1955 Birth of Tony Snow, American journalist. Chief speech-writer for U.S. President George W. Bush. White House press secretary (2006–07). (Died 2008.) 60 2 Jun 1955 The Soviet Union and Yugoslavia signed the Belgrade declaration, restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries after 7 years. 60 2 Jun 1955 The Soviet Union established Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (Initially it was a test centre for intercontinental ballistic missiles, but it was soon expanded to include launch facilities for space flights.) 60 7 Jun 1955 The first episode of the television quiz show The $64,000 Question was broadcast on CBS in the USA. (It was based on the radio quiz show Take It or Leave It, which began in April 1940.) 60 11 Jun 1955 Le Mans disaster: a car span off the track during the Le Mans 24 Hour race in France. The driver, Pierre Levegh, and 83 spectators were killed and 100+ injured – the greatest loss of life in the history of motorsport. 60 11 Jun 1955 The world’s first all-magnesium aircraft, the F-SOC, made its first test flight, at Mitchel Air Force Base, Long Island, New York, USA. 60 11 Jun 1955 Death of Walter Hampden, American stage, film and television actor and theatre manager. 60 13 Jun 1955 Soviet geologists discovered diamond-bearing deposits in Eastern Siberia. The Soviet Union’s first and largest diamond mine, the Mir mine, opened there in 1957. (It is also the world’s second-largest excavated hole.) 60 15 Jun 1955 Argentine President Juan Perón was excommunicated by Pope Pius XII after he expelled two catholic bishops (see below). 60 16 Jun 1955 Attempted coup against Argentine President Juan Perón. Navy fighter jets bombed the Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires while Perón was holding a support rally there. 364 people were killed. (Another coup in September was successful and Perón was forced into exile until 1973.) 60 16 Jun 1955 The U.S. première of the Walt Disney animated film Lady and the Tramp. (Released USA: 22nd June, UK: 16th Aug.) 60 26 Jun 1955 The South African Congress Alliance adopted the Freedom Charter, which included equal rights for all South Africans. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 108 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 29 Jun 1955 Death of Max Pechstein, German expressionist artist and printmaker. A leading member of the Die Brücke group. 60 30 Jun 1955 The first episode of The Johnny Carson Show was broadcast on CBS TV in the USA. (Although short-lived, many of its sketches were later adapted for The Tonight Show.) 50 1 Jun 1965 Bengal Cyclone II, India. The second cyclone to strike the region in less than a month (see 11th May). The 2 cyclones killed a total of 47,000 people. 50 1 Jun 1965 Yamano coal mine disaster, Fukuoka, Japan. 236 (or 237) miners were killed when a pocket of methane gas exploded. 50 1 Jun 1965 Death of Earl (‘Curly’) Lambeau, American football coach. Founder of the Green Bay Packers. 50 2 Jun 1965 Vietnam War: the first battalion of Australian combat troops arrived in South Vietnam following a request for more military assistance. 50 3 Jun 1965 NASA launched Gemini 4, its tenth manned space mission. The 4-day mission included the USA’s first space walk (see below), and several scientific experiments were carried out for the first time. 50 3 Jun 1965 Edward Higgins White became the first American to walk in space. 50 7 Jun 1965 King Hassan II of Morocco dissolved parliament and ruled directly. 50 7 Jun 1965 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that married couples had a right to privacy. This effectively legalised the use of contraception by married couples in states where it was outlawed. (Griswold vs. Connecticut.) 50 7 Jun 1965 Death of Judy Holliday, American stage and film actress. Known for her ‘dumb blonde’ comedy roles (Born Yesterday, The Solid Gold Cadillac, It Should Happen to You, Bells Are Ringing, and more). 50 8 Jun 1965 The Soviet Union launched its Luna 6 unmanned space probe. It was meant to land on the Moon, but a mid-course correction failed and it missed the Moon by almost 100,000 miles. 50 8 Jun 1965 Birth of Rob Pilatus, American-born German model, dancer and (or 1964?) entertainer. A member of the disgraced pop duo Milli Vanilli, who were forced to return their Grammy Award when it was revealed they did not sing any of the songs on their album. (Died 1998.) 50 9 Jun 1965 Vietnam War – the Battle of Dong Xoai; Viet Cong victory. (to 13th) 50 9 Jun 1965 Franz Jonas became President of Austria. 50 11 Jun 1965 The Beatles were awarded MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire). They were presented by Queen Elizabeth II on 26th Oct. (John Lennon returned his in Sept 1969 in a protest against war and for the banning of one of his songs which contained drug references.) 50 11 Jun 1965 Death of José Mendes Cabeçadas, President of Portugal (1926). 50 12 Jun 1965 American pop duo Sonny and Cher made their TV debut on American Bandstand. 50 13 Jun 1965 Death of Martin Buber, Austrian-born Israeli religious philosopher and translator. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 109 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 18 Jun 1965 Vietnam War: The U.S. Air Force launched its first B-52 bombing raid against Viet Cong guerillas in South Vietnam. (By Aug 1973 over 126,000 B-52 missions had been flown in South-East Asia.) 50 19 Jun 1965 50 19 Jun 1965 The President of Algeria, Ahmed Ben Bella, was deposed in a bloodless coup and held under house arrest until 1979. He was succeeded by Houari Boumediene. 50 20 Jun 1965 Death of Bernard Baruch, American financier, presidential advisor and philanthropist. 50 20 Jun 1965 Death of Ira Louvin, American country singer, songwriter and mandolin player (the Louvin Brothers). 50 22 Jun 1965 Death of David O. Selznick, Academy Award-winning American film producer (Gone With the Wind, Rebecca, The Third Man, and more). 50 26 Jun 1965 Death of Reginald Beckwith, British film and television character actor and playwright (Thunderball, The Day the Earth Caught Fire, The 39 Steps, and many more.) 50 30 Jun 1965 Gyula Kállai became Premier of Hungary. 40 1 Jun 1975 Drivers and front seat passengers in cars in the Netherlands were required to wear seatbelts if their vehicle was fitted with them. 40 2 Jun 1975 The last time widespread snow fell in Britain during the month of June, and thought to be the first widespread snowfall in June since the beginning of the 19th century. 40 3 Jun 1975 The original Broadway production of the musical Chicago opened. 40 3 Jun 1975 the 1974 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on nuclear disarmament. 40 5 Jun 1975 The first UK-wide referendum was held, with voters asked to decide whether Britain should remain in the European Economic Community (EEC). 67% voted yes. (A second UK-wide referendum was held in 2011, when voters decided against adopting an alternative voting system.) 40 5 Jun 1975 The Suez Canal opened for the first time in eight years. It was closed by an Egyptian blockade following the end of the Arab-Israeli War (also known as the Six Day War) in 1967. 40 7 Jun 1975 The first Cricket World Cup was held, in England. (to 21st) 40 7 Jun 1975 Sony released the Betamax video cassette recorder in the USA. (Japan: 10th May, Europe: 1978.) 40 8 Jun 1975 The Soviet Union launched its Venera 9 space probe on a mission to Venus. In October it became the first spacecraft to orbit Venus and its lander became the first spacecraft to return an image from the surface of another planet. 40 9 Jun 1975 The first live radio broadcast of proceedings from Britain’s House of Commons. 40 11 Jun 1975 Greece adopted its current constitution (though it has been revised and amended since then). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 110 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 12 Jun 1975 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was found guilty of electoral corruption and barred from holding office for six years. She refused to resign and remained in office until March 1977. (She became Prime Minister again in January 1980. See also 26th June below.) 40 14 Jun 1975 The Soviet Union launched its Venera 10 space probe to Venus. (It arrived at Venus in October.) 40 18 Jun 1975 The first North Sea oil was pumped ashore in Britain. 40 19 Jun 1975 British peer Lord Lucan was convicted in his absence of murdering his children’s 29-year-old nanny, Sandra Rivett, in November 1974. (He disappeared after the murder and has never been seen since.)

40 20 Jun 1975 The film Jaws was released in the USA. (UK: 25th Dec.) 40 25 Jun 1975 Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal. 40 26 Jun 1975 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a State of Emergency, allowing her to suspend elections, curb civil liberties and rule by decree. 40 28 Jun 1975 Death of Rod Serling, award-winning American TV scriptwriter, producer and narrator. Best known for The Twilight Zone. 30 1 Jun 1985 Death of Richard Greene, British film and television actor. Best known for the TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood. 30 1 Jun 1985 Death of Eric Partridge, New Zealand-born British lexicographer. Best known for A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. 30 2 Jun 1985 UEFA banned all English football clubs from playing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster of 28th May. On 6th June FIFA extended the ban to cover all worldwide competitions except friendly matches. (The ban was lifted after 5 years. It did not apply to the English national team.) 30 4 Jun 1985 Birth of Ana Carolina Reston, Brazilian fashion model. (Died from anorexia in 2006.) 30 6 Jun 1985 The grave of ‘Wolfgang Gerhard’ was exhumed in Embu das Artes, Brazil. The remains were later confirmed to be those Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor who conducted medical experiments on inmates at Auschwitz concentration camp during WWII. (He died in Feb 1979 after suffering a stroke while swimming.) 30 9 Jun 1985 American educator Thomas Sutherland, Dean of Agriculture at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, was kidnapped by Islamic Jihad. (Released Nov 1991, and later awarded a $35 million settlement.) 30 11 Jun 1985 The Soviet space probe Vega 1 flew past Venus and dropped a lander onto the planet which sent back details of the atmosphere and surface. (The main probe continued on to Halley’s Comet, arriving in June 1986.) 30 14 Jun 1985 TWA Flight 847 was hijacked by Lebanese Shiite Muslim extremists after taking off from Athens, Greece. It was forced to fly between Beirut and Algiers a number of times, with hostages gradually being freed, and eventually halted in Beirut. The remaining hostages were held in Beirut until 30th June. One passenger was killed. (The hijackers demanded the release of 700 prisoners held by Israel, and the prisoners were released shortly afterwards – though Israel denied there was any connection.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 111 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 30 15 Jun 1985 Death of Andy Stanfield, American sprinter. Gold medallist at the 1952 Olympic Games (200m and 4x100m relay). 30 17 Jun 1985 Sultan Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia became the first Arab, the first Muslim, and the first member of a royal family to fly in space. He was a payload specialist on board the U.S. space shuttle Discovery. 30 17 Jun 1985 Death of John Boulting, British film director who worked in partnership with his twin brother Roy (Brighton Rock, Private’s Progress, Lucky Jim, I’m All Right, Jack, There’s a Girl in My Soup, and many others). 30 18 Jun 1985 Death of Paul Colin, French poster artist, also noted for his theatrical sets and costumes. 30 21 Jun 1985 Death of Ettore Boiardi, Italian-born American chef. Founder of the Chef Boyardee brand of canned pasta products. 30 21 Jun 1985 Death of Tage Erlander, Prime Minister of Sweden (1946–69). 30 23 Jun 1985 Air India Flight 182 exploded over the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland, killing all 329 people on board. Cause: bomb planted by terrorists. 30 27 Jun 1985 The USA’s historic Route 66 highway was decertified and removed from the U.S. Highway System after being replaced along its entire length by the Interstate Highway System. 30 30 Jun 1985 Death of James Dewar, American baker who invented the Twinkie. 30 30 Jun 1985 Death of Haruo Remeliik, first President of Palau (1981–85). (Assassinated.) 25 1 Jun 1990 Washington Summit: U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed an agreement to end the production of chemical weapons and to destroy existing stocks. 25 2 Jun 1990 Lower Ohio Valley tornado outbreak, USA. (to 3rd) 66 tornadoes hit the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. 37 of them were in Indiana – a state record. 12 people were killed. 25 2 Jun 1990 Death of Sir Rex Harrison, award-winning British actor. Best known for his role in the stage production and film My Fair Lady. 25 3 Jun 1990 Death of Robert Noyce, American engineer. Co-inventor of the integrated circuit (microprocessor). Co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel. 25 4 Jun 1990 American euthanasia advocate Jack Kevorkian participated in his first assisted suicide – that of Janet Adkins, an Alzheimer’s disease sufferer. (He participated in the assisted suicides of at least 130 terminally ill people between 1990 and 1998 before being convicted of second degree murder and imprisoned. He served 8 years of a 10–25 year sentence.) 25 5 Jun 1990 Death of Vasily Kuznetsov, Soviet politician. Acted as President of the Soviet Union following the deaths of Leonid Brezhnev (1982), Yuri Andropov (1984) and Konstantin Chernenko (1985) until their official successors were appointed. 25 7 Jun 1990 BSE Crisis: France, West Germany and Italy lifted a ban on British beef. 25 7 Jun 1990 Nickelodeon Studios opened to the public at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA as a combined theme park and TV production studio. (It closed in April 2005 and TV production moved to California.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 112 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 8 Jun 1990 Death of José Figueres Ferrer, President of Costa Rica (1948–49, 1953–58, 1970–74). 25 8 Jun 1990 Death of Alfredo Poveda, President of Ecuador (1976–79). 25 12 Jun 1990 The Russian Federation formally declared its sovereignty. This day is now celebrated annually as Russia Day. 25 12 Jun 1990 Death of Terence O’Neil, Baron O’Neill of the Maine, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland (1963–69). 25 20 Jun 1990 British Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major, proposed a new European currency, the Hard Ecu, which would circulate alongside existing national currencies rather than replace them. 25 20 Jun 1990 The asteroid Eureka was discovered by David H. Levy and Henry Holt at Palomar Observatory, California, USA. It was the first Mars trojan – i.e. it follows the planet Mars in the same orbit. 25 21 Jun 1990 Manjil-Rudbar earthquake, Iran. 3 cities (Rudbar, Manjil and Lushan) and 700 villages were destroyed, 40,000 people were killed, 60,000 injured and 500,000 left homeless. (On 26th June British novelist Salman Rushdie donated $8,650 to victims of the earthquake, despite the fatwa issued against him.) 25 22 Jun 1990 Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Germany was dismantled. (It remained an official crossing point between East and West Germany until reunification in October, when the guard house was finally removed. It is now on display in a museum.) 25 22 Jun 1990 Death of Ilya Frank, Soviet-Russian physicist. Joint winner of the 1958 Nobel Prize for Physics for explaining Cherenkov radiation. 25 23 Jun 1990 The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic declared its sovereignty and changed its name from Moldavia to Moldova. (It declared independence from the Soviet Union in Aug 1991 – officially recognised Mar 1992.) 20 3 Jun 1995 The first Blockbuster Entertainment Awards were held, in Los Angeles, California, USA. (The awards ran for 7 years until 2001 when they were abruptly cancelled.) 20 3 Jun 1995 Death of J. Presper Eckert, American electrical engineer and computer pioneer. Co-invented the first general-purpose electronic computer. 20 3 Jun 1995 Death of Dilys Powell, outspoken British film critic and travel writer. 20 3 Jun 1995 Death of Frank Waters, American novelist and biographer. Known for his books about the American Southwest. 20 5 Jun 1995 Bose-Einstein condensate was created for the first time by a team led by Eric Cornell and Carl Wieman at the University of Colorado, Boulder. 20 8 Jun 1995 The first version of the PHP programming language was released by Greenlandic-Canadian programmer Rasmus Lerdorf. Originally it was a scripting language for web development, but it has since evolved into a general-purpose programming language. 20 8 Jun 1995 Death of Juan Carlos Ongania, President of Argentina (1966–70). 20 9 Jun 1995 Andrew Richards became the first man in Britain to be charged with the attempted rape of another man. (He was jailed for life.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 113 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 12 Jun 1995 Death of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Italian pianist. One of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. 20 14 Jun 1995 Pauline Clare was appointed Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary, becoming the first female Chief Constable in Britain. 20 14 Jun 1995 Death of Rory Gallagher, Irish blues/rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. 20 14 Jun 1995 Death of Roger Zelazny, American science fiction and fantasy writer. 20 15 Jun 1995 Death of John Vincent Atanasoff, American physicist and computer pioneer. Inventor of what is now recognised as the first electronic digital computer (the Atanasoff–Berry Computer), successfully tested in 1942. 20 15 Jun 1995 Death of Charles Bennett, British screenwriter and playwright. Best known for his association with Alfred Hitchcock (Blackmail, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The 39 Steps, and more). 20 17 Jun 1995 Pride Scotland, the first Pride march in Scotland, took place in Edinburgh. About 3,000 people took part. (Pride events are now held each year in Edinburgh and Glasgow.) 20 19 Jun 1995 Death of Peter Townsend, British equerry to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. Best known for his romance with Princess Margaret. 20 20 Jun 1995 Death of Emil Cioran, Romanian-born French philosopher, essayist and writer. Known for the sense of futility and despair in his work. 20 21 Jun 1995 A Japanese man hijacked an All Nippon Airways flight and forced it to land at Hakodate airport, Hokkaido, Japan. He demanded the release of Shoko Asahara, leader of the religious cult responsible for the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in March. (All hostages were released unharmed; Shoko Asahara remained in prison.) 20 22 Jun 1995 British Prime Minister John Major resigned as leader of the Conservative Party after 3 years of attacks by critics. He told his critics to ‘put up or shut up’ and invited them to stand against him in an election battle. (He beat John Redwood in the election and remained PM until May 1997.) 20 22 Jun 1995 Death of Yves Congar, French Dominican cardinal. One of the most important Roman Catholic theologians of the 20th century. 20 23 Jun 1995 Death of Jonas Salk, American medical researcher who developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine.. 20 23 Jun 1995 Death of Anatoly Tarasov, Russian ice hockey coach. Considered ‘the father of Russian hockey’. 20 25 Jun 1995 Death of Warren E. Burger, Chief Justice of the United States (1969–86). 20 25 Jun 1995 Death of Ernest Walton, Irish physicist. The first person to split an atom. Joint winner of the 1951 Nobel Prize for Physics for developing the first particle accelerator. 20 27 Jun 1995 Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani became Emir of Qatar after deposing his father Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani in a bloodless coup. 20 27 Jun 1995 Death of Jacques Berque, French sociologist, Orientalist and Islamic scholar. Translated the Koran into French. Wrote many books about the Arab world. 20 29 Jun 1995 Lisa Clayton became the first British woman to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 114 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 29 Jun 1995 The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis docked with Russia’s Mir space station – the first time the two nations’ spacecraft had docked in orbit for 20 years. 20 29 Jun 1995 The Sampoong Department Store in the Seocho-gu district of Seoul, South Korea collapsed. 502 people were killed and 937 injured – the largest peacetime disaster in South Korean history. 20 29 Jun 1995 Death of Lana Turner, American film actress (The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Bad and the Beautiful, Peyton Place, and more). 20 30 Jun 1995 Death of Phyllis Hyman, American jazz/R&B singer, songwriter and actress. (Suicide.) 20 30 Jun 1995 Death of Sicco Mansholt, Dutch politician. One of the founding fathers of what would become the European Union. European Commissioner for Agriculture (1958–72). President of the European Commission (1972–73). 20 30 Jun 1995 Death of Barney Simon, South African theatre director and playwright. Co-founder of the Market Theatre in Johannesburg – the first multi-racial theatre in South Africa. 15 10 Jun 2000 The Millennium Bridge in London opened. It closed 2 days later when it was found to sway uncomfortably when people walked in step. (Reopened Feb 2002 after dampers were fitted to eliminate the problem.) 15 10 Jun 2000 Death of Hafez al-Assad, President of Syria (1971–2000). 15 13 Jun 2000 The first North-South Korean summit (the Inter-Korean Summit) was held. (South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.) 15 26 Jun 2000 Rival scientific teams announced that they had completed the first rough map of the human genome. 15 30 Jun 2000 The U.S. communications company Verizon was created when Bell Atlantic merged with GTE. 10 1 Jun 2005 The Netherlands held a referendum on the Constitution of the European Union. 61% of voters rejected it, and the Constitution was eventually abandoned. It had already been rejected by France on 29th May. (It was replaced by the Lisbon Treaty – a series of amendments to existing treaties which contained much of the material in the constitution. It was signed on 13th Dec 2007 and came into effect on 1st Dec 2009.) 10 1 Jun 2005 Death of George Mikan, American basketball player. Considered the greatest player of the first half of the 20th century. Pioneered basketball as a game for ‘big men’. 10 2 Jun 2005 Death of Melita Norwood, British civil servant and Soviet spy who leaked secret project details while working as a secretary for the British Non- Ferrous Metals Research Association. 10 6 Jun 2005 Death of Anne Bancroft, award-winning American stage, film and television actress (The Graduate, The Pumpkin Eater, The Turning Point, Agnes of God, 84 Charing Cross Road, and more). Wife of the director Mel Brooks – she also appeared in several of his films. 10 11 Jun 2005 G8 finance ministers agreed to write off the entire $40 billion debt owed by 18 of the world’s poorest countries. 10 11 Jun 2005 Death of Vasco Gonçalves, Prime Minister of Portugal (1974–75). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 115 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 13 Jun 2005 Death of Álvaro Cunhal, Portuguese political activist and writer. General secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party (1961–92). 10 13 Jun 2005 Death of David Diamond, American composer. 10 14 Jun 2005 Death of Carlo Maria Giulini, Italian conductor. 10 14 Jun 2005 Death of Mimi Parent, Canadian surrealist artist. 10 15 Jun 2005 Death of Suzanne Flon, award-winning French stage and film actress. 10 17 Jun 2005 Dennis Kozlowski, the former CEO of Tyco International, and Mark Swartz, the company’s former Chief Financial Officer, were convicted of grand larceny and securities fraud, having embezzled millions of dollars worth of funds from the company. (They were both imprisoned in Sept 2005 and released in Jan 2014.) 10 18 Jun 2005 Death of Syed Mushtaq Ali, Indian cricketer. 10 20 Jun 2005 Death of Larry Collins, American journalist and writer. He often worked in partnership with the French writer Dominique Lapierre. 10 20 Jun 2005 Death of Jack Kilby, American electrical engineer. Co-inventor of the integrated circuit (microprocessor). Inventor of the hand-held calculator and thermal printer. Joint winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Physics. 10 21 Jun 2005 Donald Tsang became Chief Executive of Hong Kong. 10 21 Jun 2005 Death of Jaime Cardinal Sin, Filipino Roman Catholic cleric. Archbishop of Manila (1974–2003). 10 23 Jun 2005 Death of Shana Alexander, American journalist and writer. Best known for her ‘Point-Counterpoint’ debates with James J. Kilpatrick on the TV show 60 Minutes. 10 24 Jun 2005 Death of Paul Winchell, American ventriloquist, voice actor (most notably of Tigger in the Winnie The Pooh cartoons) and inventor of the first mechanical heart that could be implanted in a patient’s chest. 10 25 Jun 2005 Death of John Fiedler, American stage, film, television and radio actor. Best known for his roles as Juror #2 in the film 12 Angry Men and as the voice of Piglet in Walt Disney’s Winnie the Pooh productions. He also voiced characters in numerous other Disney features and made many guest appearances on TV. 10 26 Jun 2005 Death of Richard Whiteley, British TV presenter. Best known for hosting the word/number puzzle game show Countdown. 10 27 Jun 2005 Dennis Rader, ‘the BTK Killer’, admitted torturing and killing 10 people in Wichita, Kansas, USA between 1974 and 1991. In August he was sentenced to 10 consecutive life terms. 10 27 Jun 2005 Death of Domino Harvey, British-born American bounty hunter. (Drug overdose.) (The 2005 film Domino is based on her life.) 10 27 Jun 2005 Death of Shelby Foote, American historian, novelist and short story writer. Known for his works about the U.S. Civil War and American South. 10 28 Jun 2005 The final design of the Freedom Tower (now known as One World Trade Center) in New York City, USA was formally unveiled. (The tower is due to be officially opened in mid 2014.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 116 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 1700 25 Jul 315 The Arch of Constantine in Rome, Italy was dedicated. It commemorates the Roman Emperor Constantine I’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. (London’s Marble Arch is based on its design.) 1400 29 Jul 615 K’inich Janaab’ Pakal, (Pacal the Great), aged 12, became ruler of Palenque, a Mayan city-state (now in southern Mexico). (Controversy surrounds the meaning of the icons and inscriptions on his tomb and sarcophagus – some suggest an extraterrestrial influence.) 900 24 Jul 1115 Death of Matilda of Canossa, Countess of Tuscany. Best known for her role in the conflict between the papacy (Pope Gregory VII) and the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. 800 25 Jul 1215 Frederick II became King of the Romans (King of Germany, Italy and Burgundy), having been a claimant to the title since 1212. (In November 1220 he became Holy Roman Emperor.) 600 4 Jul 1415 Pope Gregory XII was forced to resign in order to end the Western Schism – a split in the Catholic Church in which several men claimed to be the true pope. He was succeeded by Pope Martin V in Nov 1417. 600 6 Jul 1415 The Council of Constance condemned Czech priest and religious reformer Jan Hus as a heretic. He was defrocked, burned at the stake and his ashes thrown into the River Rhine. This led to the Hussite wars (1419–34). 500 21 Jul 1515 Birth of Saint Philip Neri, (‘the Apostle of Rome’), Italian priest and mystic. Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory – a society of secular clergy. 500 22 Jul 1515 The First Congress of Vienna was held, finally resolving issues between the Holy Roman Empire and Poland and Lithuania. There was also a double wedding, which significantly advanced the Habsburg claims to succession in Hungary and Bohemia. 400 Jul 1615 Lake Huron, the second-largest of the Great Lakes of North America, was first discovered by Europeans. 300 4 Jul 1715 Birth of Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, German poet and novelist. 300 5 Jul 1715 Death of Charles Ancillon, French lawyer, teacher and diplomat. Leader/pastor of the French Protestant (Huguenot) refugee community in Germany. 300 16 Jul 1715 Birth of Charles de Rohan, Prince of Soubise, French military officer and peer, Marshal of France, minister/courtier to King Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour. 300 30 Jul 1715 11 out of 12 ships in the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet sank in a hurricane near Florida while returning to Spain. 1,000 sailors were killed. (The ships were carrying gold and silver coins and other valuable items. Although most of it has been salvaged, some still washes up on the shore today.) 300 30 Jul 1715 Death of Nahum Tate, Irish-born English Poet Laureate (1692–1715) and playwright. 250 13 Jul 1765 Birth of Simeon North, American firearms manufacturer. Developed one of the first milling machines in the USA and pioneered the use of interchangeable parts in manufacturing. 250 15 Jul 1765 Death of Charles-André van Loo, French artist. Best known for his portraits of European royalty and society figures. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 117 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 200 8 Jul 1815 Louis XVIII was restored as the French monarch following Napoleon’s defeat and abdication. 200 9 Jul 1815 Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord became Prime Minister of France. (He resigned in September.) 200 15 Jul 1815 Horse racing began at Cheltenham, England when the first organised Flat race was held there. (The racecourse opened on its present site in 1831.) 200 17 Jul 1815 Napoleon surrendered to British forces at Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France. (He had been ordered to leave Paris after his defeat at Waterloo, and travelled to Rochefort in the hope of sailing to the USA. But he found the port blockaded by British warships and had no choice but to surrender. He was exiled to Saint Helena until his death in May 1821.) 200 20 Jul 1815 Birth of Giuseppe La Farina, Italian revolutionary and writer. Leader of the Risorgimento (the movement for Italian unification). 175 4 Jul 1840 The maiden voyage of the Cunard Line paddle steamer RMS Britannia, from Liverpool, England to Halifax, Nova Scotia. 175 15 Jul 1840 Second Egyptian–Ottoman War: England, Russia, Prussia and Austria formed a Quadruple Alliance to support the Ottoman Empire against Egypt, France and Spain. 175 23 Jul 1840 The British Parliament passed the Act of Union, uniting Upper and Lower Canada to create the Province of Canada. (Effective from 10 Feb 1841.) (The Province of Canada was divided into Ontario and Quebec in 1867.) 150 2 Jul 1865 Birth of Lily Braun, German feminist and socialist writer. 150 5 Jul 1865 The Salvation Army was founded in London (as the Christian Mission) by William and Catherine Booth. 150 5 Jul 1865 The U.S. Secret Service began operating as a division of the Department of the Treasury, tasked with the prevention of counterfeiting. 150 6 Jul 1865 Birth of Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, Swiss composer, musician and music teacher who developed the eurythmics method of musical instruction (learning and experiencing music through movement). 150 7 Jul 1865 Four co-conspirators in the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln were hanged in Washington D.C. They included Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the U.S. federal government. 150 13 Jul 1865 Barnum’s American Museum in New York City, USA was destroyed in a fire – cause unknown. (It was owned by the showman P. T. Barnum. He rebuilt it at another location but that also burned down in 1868 – cause unknown. Soon after this he retired from the museum industry and moved into politics and the circus industry.) 150 14 Jul 1865 The first successful ascent of the Matterhorn, by a team led by British mountaineer Edward Whymper. (4 members were killed on the descent.)

150 15 Jul 1865 Birth of Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe, British newspaper publishing magnate. 150 18 Jul 1865 Birth of Laurence Housman, British playwright, writer, artist and illustrator. Brother of the poet A. E. Housman. 150 19 Jul 1865 Birth of Charles Horace Mayo, American surgeon. Co-founder of the Mayo Clinic. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 118 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 21 Jul 1865 The first quick-draw shootout of the American Old West. Wild Bill Hickok shot and killed Davis Tutt in the town square of Springfield, Missouri. 150 23 Jul 1865 Birth of Max Heindel, Danish Christian occultist, astrologer and mystic. Founder of the Rosicrucian Fellowship. 150 25 Jul 1865 Death of James Barry (real name Margaret Bulkley), Irish-born British military surgeon. Thought to be the first British woman to qualify as a medical doctor. Born female but lived whole adult life as a male in order to get a university education and work as a doctor. Carried out the first caesarean section in Africa in which both the mother and baby survived. 150 26 Jul 1865 Patrick Francis Healy became the first African American to earn a PhD (from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium). 150 26 Jul 1865 Birth of Philipp Scheidemann, Chancellor of the Weimar Republic (Germany, 1919). (He proclaimed the republic in November 1918 – without either his party’s or the government’s authorisation.) 150 27 Jul 1865 The first Welsh settlers arrived at Chubut in Argentina where they established a colony. (The colony quickly expanded and other Welsh settlements were established. There are now about 25,000 Welsh speakers in Argentina, and about 50,000 Argentinians are of Welsh decent.) 150 30 Jul 1865 The U.S. paddle steamer Brother Jonathan hit a rock and sank off the coast of Crescent City, California, USA. 225 people were killed – the deadliest shipwreck on the U.S. Pacific Coast at that time. 150 31 Jul 1865 The world’s first narrow gauge mainline railway opened in Queensland, Australia. (Queensland Rail still uses narrow gauge today.) 125 1 Jul 1890 The Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty was signed by Britain and Germany. Germany gained the islands of Heligoland, allowing it to control the approaches to its coast on the North Sea. In exchange it gave up its rights to parts of East Africa, enabling Britain to build a railway to Lake Victoria. 125 1 Jul 1890 The Canada–Bermuda submarine telegraph cable went into service. It had a massive impact on tourism and commerce in Bermuda, allowing it to communicate with the rest of the world almost instantly rather than relying on ships to carry messages. 125 2 Jul 1890 The U.S. Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act. It prohibits anti- competitive business practices, as well as monopolies or cartels that might harm competition.

125 3 Jul 1890 Idaho became the 43rd state of the USA. 125 7 Jul 1890 Death of Henri Nestlé, German confectioner. Creator of condensed milk. Founder of Nestlé S.A. – the world’s largest food and beverage company.

125 10 Jul 1890 Wyoming became the 44th state of the USA. 125 13 Jul 1890 Death of John C. Frémont, American military officer, explorer, map-maker and presidential candidate. 125 17 Jul 1890 Cecil Rhodes became Prime Minister of the Cape Colony (now part of South Africa). 125 20 Jul 1890 The first issue of the philatelic journal Gibbons Stamp Monthly was published in Britain (as Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 119 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 125 20 Jul 1890 Birth of George II, King of Greece (1922–24, 1935–47). 125 22 Jul 1890 Birth of Rose Kennedy, American philanthropist. Mother of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Senator Edward Kennedy. 125 26 Jul 1890 Revolution of the Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina – an uprising against President Miguel Juárez Celman. Although Celman defeated the uprising, he was forced to resign on 6th August. 125 29 Jul 1890 Death of Vincent van Gogh, Dutch post-impressionist artist. 100 1 Jul 1915 The Royal Australian Survey Corps was formed as part of the Australian Army. It provided combat forces with maps, charts and survey data. (Disbanded 1996.) 100 1 Jul 1915 The Commonwealth Lighthouse Service was founded in Australia. It took over responsibility for the control and maintenance of existing lighthouses and navigational aids, and the construction of new ones to a standard design. (Now disbanded.) 100 1 Jul 1915 Birth of Willie Dixon, Grammy Award-winning American blues musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He had a major influence on the Chicago blues style.

100 1 Jul 1915 Birth of Philip Lever, 3rd Viscount Leverhulme, British peer, landowner and race horse owner. 100 1 Jul 1915 Birth of Joseph Ransohoff, pioneering American neurosurgeon and educator who introduced many innovations to modern neurosurgery. 100 1 Jul 1915 Birth of Jean Stafford, Pulitzer Prize-winning American short story writer and novelist. 100 2 Jul 1915 Death of Porfirio Díaz, President of Mexico (1876, 1877–80, 1884–1911). 100 5 Jul 1915 Birth of John Woodruff, American athlete. 800m gold medalist at the 1936 Olympics – despite being boxed in by other athletes during the race and forced to stop running. 100 7 Jul 1915 Birth of Margaret Walker, American novelist and poet. One of the leading black woman writers of the mid-20th century. 100 9 Jul 1915 World War I: German South-West Africa (now Namibia) surrendered to the Allies. 100 9 Jul 1915 Birth of David Diamond, American composer. 100 11 Jul 1915 Birth of Colin Kelly, American pilot. A hero of WWII who sacrificed his life to save his colleagues when his B-17 bomber was shot down by the Japanese in Dec 1941. 100 16 Jul 1915 Birth of Barnard Hughes, award-winning American stage, film and television actor. 100 16 Jul 1915 Death of Ellen G. White, American religious leader. Co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 100 17 Jul 1915 Birth of Dorothy Poynton-Hill, American diver. Gold medallist in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics. (10m platform.)

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Ann. Date Event 100 18 Jul 1915 World War I – the Second Battle of the Isonzo (Slovenia). Austria- (to 3 Aug) Hungarian forces contained a second Italian offensive, though both sides lost over 40,000 men. The battle ended when both sides ran out of ammunition.

100 21 Jul 1915 Birth of Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk, British peer and military officer. 100 22 Jul 1915 Death of Sir Sandford Fleming, Scottish-born Canadian engineer and inventor. Canada’s leading railway engineer in the 19th century. Proposed worldwide time zones. Designed Canada’s first postage stamp. 100 24 Jul 1915 The U.S. passenger ship S.S. Eastland capsized while tied to a dock in the Chicago River. 844 passengers and crew were killed – the largest loss of life from a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes. (The crowded ship was top-heavy with passengers and lifeboats, and rolled over when passengers rushed to one side.) 100 26 Jul 1915 The American-born writer Henry James became a British citizen to demonstrate his commitment, support and admiration for his adopted country during WWI. 100 26 Jul 1915 Death of Sir James Murray, Scottish lexicographer and philologist. First editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. 100 27 Jul 1915 Death of Vilbrun Guillaume Sam, President of Haiti (1915). Murdered by (or 28th?) angry citizens who tore him to pieces and paraded his body parts through the streets after he ordered the execution of 167 political prisoners. This led to the U.S. military occupation of Haiti (see below). 100 28 Jul 1915 U.S. military forces invaded and occupied Haiti to safeguard American business interests and prevent a German invasion following the assassination of President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam. (U.S. forces remained in Haiti until August 1934.) 100 28 Jul 1915 Birth of Frankie Yankovic, Grammy Award-winning American musician, known as ‘America’s Polka King’. 90 1 Jul 1925 Death of Erik Satie, influential French composer, pianist and writer. 90 6 Jul 1925 Birth of Bill Haley, American rock and roll singer (Bill Haley and His Comets). Best known for the songs Rock Around the Clock, See You Later, Alligator and Shake, Rattle and Roll. (Died 1981.) 90 10 Jul 1925 Scopes Trial, Dayton, Tennessee, USA. High school science teacher John (to 21st) Scopes was charged with teaching the theory of evolution, in violation of a Tennessee state law (the Butler Act). He was found guilty and fined $100, but the conviction was later overturned by the Court of Appeal and the trial was declared void. (Scopes had agreed to be tried for violating the act. The trial was funded by the American Civil Liberties Union.) 90 10 Jul 1925 Indian spiritual master Meher Baba began maintaining his silence. He never said another word for the rest of his life. (He died in 1969, having been silent for 44 years.) 90 14 Jul 1925 Death of Pancho Villa, Filipino world flyweight boxing champion. (Not to be confused with the Mexican revolutionary of the same name.) 90 18 Jul 1925 Adolf Hitler’s autobiographical manifesto Mein Kampf (My Struggle) was published. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 121 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 90 25 Jul 1925 TASS, the official news agency of the Soviet Union, was established. 80 July 1935 Yangtze River flood, China. More than 140,000 people were killed. 80 1 Jul 1935 Grant Park Music Festival began in Chicago, Illinois. It is the only free classical music concert series in the USA. 80 3 Jul 1935 The first episode of the Hawaiian music show Hawaii Calls was broadcast to the west coast of the USA. It was eventually heard on over 750 radio stations around the world and ran for 2,000+ episodes until 1975. 80 3 Jul 1935 Death of André Citroën, French engineer and industrialist. Founder of the Citroën car company. Introduced Henry Ford’s mass production systems to Europe. 80 6 Jul 1935 The National Labor Relations Act came into effect in the USA. It guarantees the basic rights of private sector employees. 80 9 Jul 1935 Birth of Wim Duisenberg, Dutch economist. First president of the European Central Bank (1998–2003). Oversaw the introduction of the euro. (Died 2005.) 80 9 Jul 1935 Birth of Michael Williams, British stage, film, television and radio actor. A noted Shakespearean actor but best known for the TV sitcom A Fine Romance in which he starred with his wife Dame Judi Dench. (Died 2001.) 80 12 Jul 1935 The Soviet Union and Belgium established diplomatic relations. (Broken off July 1940, restored with Belgian government-in-exile in August 1941.) 80 12 Jul 1935 Death of Alfred Dreyfus, French military officer whose conviction for treason led to the Dreyfus Affair – a 12-year political scandal concerning miscarriage of justice. (He was eventually exonerated.) 80 13 Jul 1935 Birth of Jack Kemp, American football player and congressman. Running mate of Bob Dole in the 1996 U.S. Presidential election. (Died 2009.) 80 15 Jul 1935 Death of Pieter Cort van der Linden, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1913–18). 80 16 Jul 1935 The world’s first parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City, USA. 80 17 Jul 1935 Death of George William Russell, (‘AE’), Irish nationalist, poet, artist and mystic. 80 20 Jul 1935 Birth of Ted Rogers, British comedian and TV presenter. Best known for the game show 3-2-1. (Died 2001.) 80 24 Jul 1935 Greetings telegrams were introduced in Britain. (They were an instant success, with 25,000 sent in the first week.) 80 24 Jul 1935 The world’s first children’s railway opened in Tbilisi, Georgia. 80 25 Jul 1935 Abyssinia Crisis: Britain imposed an embargo on the sale of arms to Italy and Ethiopia. 80 28 Jul 1935 First flight of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, in Seattle, Washington, USA. 80 28 Jul 1935 Birth of Simon Dee, British disc jockey and television talk show host. The first DJ on Radio Caroline (pirate radio) and one of the first on BBC Radio 1. (Died 2009.) 80 30 Jul 1935 The first 10 Penguin paperbacks were published in the UK. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 122 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 75 1 Jul 1940 World War II: the Vichy Government was established in France. 75 1 Jul 1940 World War II: Jersey was occupied by German forces. (Alderney was occupied on 2nd, and Sark on 4th. Guernsey had already been occupied on 30th June. The Channel Islands remained under German occupation until 9th May 1945.) 75 1 Jul 1940 Death of Ben Turpin, cross-eyed American comic and silent film actor. 75 2 Jul 1940 Lake Washington Floating Bridge (now the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge) was opened. It links Seattle to Mercer Island, Washington, USA. 75 3 Jul 1940 World War II: the British Royal Navy destroyed a French fleet in Algeria to prevent it from being used by Germany. (As a result, Vichy France broke off diplomatic relations with Britain on 5th.) 75 10 Jul 1940 World War II – the Battle of Britain. British victory. (to 31 Oct) 75 10 Jul 1940 Death of Sir Donald Tovey, British musicologist, composer, conductor and pianist. 75 11 Jul 1940 World War II: (Henri) Philippe Pétain became Chief of State of Vichy France. (In August 1945 he was convicted of treason for this and sentenced to life imprisonment.) 75 14 Jul 1940 World War II: Canadian General Andrew McNaughton became commander of the VII Corps of the British Army. (It was renamed the Canadian Corps in December.) 75 15 Jul 1940 Death of Donald Calthrop, British stage and film actor. Best known for his lead role in the hit musical The Boy in 1917. He also appeared in 63 films, including the 1935 film Scrooge in which he played Bob Cratchit. 75 15 Jul 1940 Death of Robert Wadlow, American giant; the world’s tallest man, almost nine feet tall and still growing at the time of his death, aged 22. 75 16 Jul 1940 World War II: Adolf Hitler ordered the invasion of England (Operation Sea Lion). The order was postponed on 17th September and never carried out. 75 19 Jul 1940 The Two-Ocean Navy Act was enacted in the USA. It was the largest naval procurement bill in U.S. history and increased the size of the U.S. Navy by 70%. 75 19 Jul 1940 The British Army‘s Intelligence Corps was founded. 75 19 Jul 1940 World War II – the Battle of Cape Spada (a sea battle off Crete). Allied victory. 75 19 Jul 1940 World War II: Hitler gave his ‘A Last Appeal to Reason’ speech to the German Reichstag. He urged Britain to surrender immediately in order to avoid all-out war. Copies of the speech (translated into English) were dropped over Britain during bombing raids on 1st August. 75 20 Jul 1940 Billboard magazine published the first ‘Music Popularity Chart’, which listed the top 10 singles sold in the USA that week. The first #1 song was I’ll Never Smile Again by Tommy Dorsey. 75 23 Jul 1940 World War II: Britain’s Local Defence Volunteers were renamed the Home Guard. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 123 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 75 25 Jul 1940 World War II: Swiss General Henri Guisan declared that Switzerland would resist any Nazi invasion, would defend itself against any invader, and would never surrender. (Swiss citizens were informed that any announcement of surrender should be disregarded as ‘enemy lies’.) 75 26 Jul 1940 Birth of Mary Jo Kopechne, American political aide, killed in 1969 when she was a passenger in Senator Edward Kennedy’s car which drove off an unmarked bridge in Massachusetts (the Chappaquiddick Incident). 75 27 Jul 1940 Bugs Bunny made his first appearance, in the Warner Bros. cartoon A Wild Hare. 75 27 Jul 1940 Birth of Pina Bausch, influential German dancer, choreographer and director. A leading exponent of Tanztheater. (Died 2009.) 70 5 Jul 1945 British General Election. WWII leader Winston Churchill was expected to remain Prime Minister but was defeated by Clement Atlee’s Labour Party. (Result declared 26th July.) 70 5 Jul 1945 Death of John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia (1941–45). 70 6 Jul 1945 U.S. President Harry S. Truman established the Medal of Freedom (now known as the Presidential Medal of Freedom). It honours civilians whose actions aid the war efforts of the USA and its allies. 70 14 Jul 1945 World War II: U.S. Navy warships began bombarding the main Japanese islands – the first such attack of the war. 70 16 Jul 1945 The USA detonated the world’s first nuclear weapon, at the Trinity Site, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. 70 17 Jul 1945 World War II: the Potsdam Conference, Germany. Allied leaders met to (to 2 Aug) discuss the fate of the defeated Germany and the terms for Japanese surrender (or its destruction if it did not surrender). 70 23 Jul 1945 (Henri) Philippe Pétain, Chief of State of Vichy France during WWII, went (to 15 Aug) on trial for treason. (He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. He died in prison in 1951.) 70 26 Jul 1945 Clement Attlee became British Prime Minister after defeating Winston Churchill in the General Election held on 5th July (see above). 70 28 Jul 1945 A U.S. Army B-25 Mitchell bomber crashed into the Empire State Building in New York City, USA in thick fog. All 3 people on the plane and 11 people in the building were killed. 70 29 Jul 1945 The BBC Light Programme radio station was launched in the UK, broadcasting mainstream light entertainment and music. (It became BBC Radio 2 in 1967.) 70 30 Jul 1945 World War II: the U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine after delivering key components of the Hiroshima atomic bomb to the Pacific island of Tinian. About 300 of the 1,196 crew were killed immediately, while almost 600 more died over the following days from dehydration, exposure, salt water poisoning or shark attacks while awaiting rescue. 317 survived. 65 4 Jul 1950 Radio Free Europe made its first broadcast (to Czechoslovakia). The station’s aim was to bring about the peaceful demise of the Communists.

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Ann. Date Event 65 5 Jul 1950 Israel’s Knesset passed the Law of Return, which granted all Jews the right to immigrate to Israel. 65 5 Jul 1950 Korean War – Task Force Smith: the first clash between U.S. and North Korean forces. 65 8 Jul 1950 American General Douglas MacArthur was appointed commander-in- chief of the United Nations forces in the Korean War. 65 10 Jul 1950 The first episode of the TV music show Your Hit Parade was broadcast on NBC in the USA. (It ran until 1959, transferring to CBS in 1958. The radio version of the show ran from 1935 to 1953.) 65 11 Jul 1950 The BBC children’s television show Andy Pandy was first broadcast in the UK. 65 14 Jul 1950 Korean War – the Battle of Taejon (South Korea). This was a tactical win (to 21st) for North Korea, but delayed them while the U.S. established a 140-mile defensive line around Pusan (now Busan). (See 4th August 1950.) 65 22 Jul 1950 King Leopold III of Belgium returned to the throne after more than 5 years in exile. His return was marked by violent protests and a general strike, and on 1st August he announced his abdication. (He officially abdicated on 16th July 1951, succeeded by his son Baudouin on 17th.) 65 26 Jul 1950 Vietnam War: U.S. military involvement in Vietnam began when President Harry S. Truman authorised $15 million of military aid to the French. 65 26 Jul 1950 The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) was disbanded. 60 2 Jul 1955 Death of Edward Lawson, British soldier. Awarded the Victoria Cross for saving the lives of 2 colleagues while under heavy fire during the Tirah Campaign (British India). 60 6 Jul 1955 Antonio Segni became Prime Minister of Italy. (He became Prime Minister again in 1959 and President in 1962.) 60 9 Jul 1955 The Russell-Einstein Manifesto was released by Bertrand Russell in London. It called on world leaders to seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts and highlighted the dangers of nuclear weapons. 60 9 Jul 1955 The song Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and His Comets reached #1 on the Billboard chart in the USA. (It remained #1 for 8 weeks. Although not the first rock and roll song, it is considered the song that brought rock and roll into the mainstream.) 60 9 Jul 1955 E. Frederic Morrow became the first African American executive to serve (or 10th?) on the White House staff when he was appointed Administrative Officer for Special Projects. 60 11 Jul 1955 The U.S. Air Force Academy officially opened and the first cadets were sworn in. (The Academy was initially housed in temporary quarters at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, Colorado. The permanent site at Colorado Springs was completed in August 1958.) 60 13 Jul 1955 Death of Ruth Ellis, British convicted murderer. The last woman to be executed in the UK. 60 15 Jul 1955 The Mainau Declaration against nuclear weapons was signed in Germany by 18 Nobel Prize laureates. 52 had signed it within a year. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 125 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 17 Jul 1955 The first Disneyland theme park opened, in Anaheim, California, USA. 60 20 Jul 1955 Death of Calouste Gulbenkian, Turkish-born Armenian businessman and philanthropist. Helped make Middle Eastern oil reserves available to the West. One of the world’s richest men. Amassed one of the world’s greatest private art collections. 60 21 Jul 1955 The USS Seawolf was launched in Connecticut, USA. It was the only U.S. submarine to be powered by a liquid metal (sodium) cooled nuclear reactor. (The reactor proved difficult to maintain and was replaced by a pressurised water reactor after 3 years. The Seawolf was decommissioned in March 1987.) 60 21 Jul 1955 Birth of Howie Epstein, American rock musician and singer. Best known as the bassist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. (Died 2003.) 60 23 Jul 1955 Death of Cordell Hull, U.S. Secretary of State (1933–44). Winner of the 1945 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in establishing the United Nations. 60 27 Jul 1955 The Allied occupation of Austria during/after WWII ended and Austria regained full independence. 60 28 Jul 1955 The Union Mundial pro Interlingua was founded in Tours, France. It promotes Interlingua, a modernised version of Latin that is used as an international auxiliary language. 50 3 Jul 1965 Death of Trigger, American golden palomino horse. Co-starred with singer and actor Roy Rogers in over 100 Western films and The Roy Rogers Show television series. 50 7 Jul 1965 Death of Moshe Sharett, Prime Minister of Israel (1953–55). 50 8 Jul 1965 British Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs escaped from Wandsworth Prison in London. (He lived in Brazil until 2001 when he returned to the UK and was re-imprisoned. Released July 2009. Died December 2013.) 50 9 Jul 1965 Patricia Roberts Harris was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, becoming the first African American woman ambassador. 50 9 Jul 1965 The song I Got You Babe by Sonny & Cher was released. 50 9 Jul 1965 Death of Jacques Audiberti, French poet, novelist and playwright. (or 10th?) Associated with the Theatre of the Absurd. 50 14 Jul 1965 NASA’s Mariner 4 spacecraft flew past Mars and sent back the first close- (to 15th) up photos of another planet. 50 14 Jul 1965 Death of Adlai Stevenson, American politician and presidential candidate (1952, 1956). Governor of Illinois (1949–53). U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1961–65). 50 15 Jul 1965 Georgios Athanasiadis-Novas became Prime Minister of Greece. 50 16 Jul 1965 The Mont Blanc Tunnel in the Alps was inaugurated. It links France and Italy. (Opened to traffic 19th July.) 50 18 Jul 1965 The Soviet Union launched its Zond 3 spacecraft. It flew past the Moon on 20th July, sending back several high-quality photos. 50 19 Jul 1965 Death of Clyde Beatty, American wild animal trainer and circus performer. 50 19 Jul 1965 Death of Syngman Rhee, first President of South Korea (1948–60). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 126 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 20 Jul 1965 The song Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan was released. 50 25 Jul 1965 Bob Dylan performed at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, USA with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, using electric guitars. Folk music purists and festival organisers reacted with hostility, and some of the audience booed him for abandoning his folk music roots. But this performance signalled a major change in both folk music and rock. 50 26 Jul 1965 The Maldives gained its independence from the UK. 50 28 Jul 1965 Vietnam War: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that he was significantly increasing the number of U.S. troops in South Vietnam. (By the end of 1965 U.S. troop levels in South Vietnam were over 180,000.) 50 29 Jul 1965 The Beatles’ film Help! was released in the UK. (USA: première: 9th and 11th August; released 25th August.) 50 30 Jul 1965 The Social Security Act of 1965 came into effect in the USA, establishing Medicare and Medicaid. 50 30 Jul 1965 Death of Jun’ichiro Tanizaki, Japanese novelist. One of the major writers of modern Japanese literature. 40 2 Jul 1975 Death of James Robertson Justice, popular British film actor (Doctor in the House, Doctor at Large, Doctor in Love, The Guns of Navarone, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and many more). 40 5 Jul 1975 Cape Verde gained its independence from Portugal. 40 5 Jul 1975 American tennis player Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win Wimbledon. (At the time of writing he was still the only one.) 40 5 Jul 1975 Death of Otto Skorzeny, German Nazi SS officer. Best known for rescuing the deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from captivity in the Abruzzi mountains. 40 6 Jul 1975 Comoros gained its independence from France. 40 8 Jul 1975 Bagan (also known as Pagan) earthquake, Burma. Many temples were damaged and the Bupaya Pagoda was completely destroyed. (It has now been rebuilt.) 40 9 Jul 1975 The National Assembly of Senegal attempted to move away from being a single-party system, passing a law that led to a (somewhat restricted) three-party system representing the liberal democrats, socialist democrats and Marxist-Leninists. 40 10 Jul 1975 Death of Achille Van Acker, Prime Minister of Belgium (1945–46, 1954–58). 40 12 Jul 1975 São Tomé and Príncipe gained its independence from Portugal. 40 15 Jul 1975 Death of Charles Weidman, renowned American dancer, choreographer and teacher. One of the pioneers of modern dance in the USA. 40 17 Jul 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. A U.S. Apollo spacecraft and a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft docked in orbit – the first-ever docking between spacecraft from the two countries. (It was also the last-ever Apollo mission, the last U.S. manned space flight until the space shuttle programme began in 1981, and it marked the official end of the space race.)

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Ann. Date Event 40 19 Jul 1975 Death of Lefty Frizzell, influential American country music/honky tonk singer and songwriter. 40 25 Jul 1975 The musical A Chorus Line opened on Broadway. (It ran for 6,137 performances, setting a record for the longest-running Broadway production until 1997 when it was beaten by Cats.) 40 30 Jul 1975 American trade union leader Jimmy Hoffa disappeared outside a restaurant in Detroit. He was never seen again. (Declared dead July 1982.) 40 30 Jul 1975 Death of James Blish, American science fiction and fantasy writer and literary critic. Best known for his Cities in Flight series and the novel A Case of Conscience. 30 2 Jul 1985 The European Space Agency (ESA) launched its Giotto spacecraft on a mission to fly by and study Halley’s Comet. It was the first spacecraft to study a comet close up. (It reached Halley’s Comet in March 1986 and also flew by and studied Comet Grigg-Skjellerup in July 1992.)

30 3 Jul 1985 The film Back to the Future was released in the USA. (UK: 4th December.) 30 4 Jul 1985 British maths prodigy Ruth Lawrence graduated from Oxford University at the age of 13 – the youngest person to receive a first-class degree. 30 4 Jul 1985 Death of Jan de Quay, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1959–63). 30 7 Jul 1985 German tennis player Boris Becker, aged 17, became the youngest-ever men’s singles champion at Wimbledon, and the first unseeded player to win. 30 8 Jul 1985 Death of Simon Kuznets, Belarusian/Ukrainian-born American economist and statistician. Winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Economics for his studies of economic growth and development. 30 9 Jul 1985 Death of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1919–64). 30 9 Jul 1985 Death of Jimmy Kinnon, Scottish-born American founder of Narcotics Anonymous. 30 10 Jul 1985 The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior was bombed and sunk in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand by French intelligence agents in order to prevent it from interfering with a planned nuclear test. One person was killed – Portuguese-Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira. 30 11 Jul 1985 The Coca-Cola Company announced that it would resume selling its original formula after a public backlash against New Coke. 30 13 Jul 1985 Live Aid. Two simultaneous concerts in London and Philadelphia, plus other venues including Sydney and Moscow, raised millions of pounds for famine victims in Africa. 30 16 Jul 1985 Death of Heinrich Böll, German novelist, short story writer, radio play- wright and essayist. Winner of the 1972 Nobel Prize for Literature. 30 19 Jul 1985 Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire, USA was selected as the winner of NASA’s Teacher in Space project. (She was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in Jan 1986.)

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Ann. Date Event 30 19 Jul 1985 The Val di Stava dam in Italy collapsed, killing 268 people. 30 20 Jul 1985 American treasure hunter Mel Fisher discovered the wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha off the Florida Keys. It was laden with gold, silver, emeralds and other artefacts worth an estimated $450 million (£283 million). 30 27 Jul 1985 Andrei Gromyko became head of state of the Soviet Union. 30 27 Jul 1985 The President of Uganda, Milton Obote, was overthrown in a military coup. 30 28 Jul 1985 Alan Garcia became President of Peru. 30 31 Jul 1985 Death of Eugene Carson Blake, American Presbyterian Church leader and civil rights activist. General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (1966–72). Helped organise the March on Washington. 25 1 Jul 1990 East Germany and West Germany merged their economies, with East Germany accepting the Deutsche Mark as its currency. (Full reunification took place on 3rd October.) 25 2 Jul 1990 Over 1,000 Muslim pilgrims were killed in a stampede in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca. 25 3 Jul 1990 Death of Maurice Girodias, French publisher. Best known for publishing risqué books that had been banned in Britain, which he then sold to British tourists. 25 8 Jul 1990 Death of Howard Duff, American stage, film, television and radio actor. Best known for the radio series The Adventures of Sam Spade and the film Kramer vs Kramer. 25 10 Jul 1990 The Electronic Frontier Foundation was founded, with the aim of preserving personal freedom online. 25 10 Jul 1990 Death of Irene Champlin, American stage, film and television actress. Best known for her role as Dale Arden in the television series Flash Gordon. 25 11 Jul 1990 Oka Crisis, Quebec, Canada – a land dispute between the Mohawk people (to 26 Sept) and the town of Oka. 1 person was killed. 25 12 Jul 1990 Russian President Boris Yeltsin resigned from the Communist Party. 25 12 Jul 1990 The first episode of the television series Northern Exposure was broadcast in the USA. 25 13 Jul 1990 43 climbers were killed on Lenin Peak in Central Asia when an earth tremor triggered an avalanche that fell onto their camp. It was one of the worst tragedies in the history of mountain climbing. 25 15 Jul 1990 Death of Margaret Lockwood, British stage, film and television actress. One of the most popular stars of the 1940s (The Lady Vanishes, The Man in Grey, Love Story, Wicked Lady and more). 25 16 Jul 1990 Luzon earthquake, Philippines. Over 1,500 people were killed. 25 17 Jul 1990 Iraqi President Saddam Hussein threatened to use force against Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates to stop them from driving down oil prices. (On 24th July Iraq sent tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks to the border with Kuwait, ahead of an invasion on 2nd August which led to the Gulf War.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 129 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 17 Jul 1990 Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat married Suha Tawil in Tunisia. 25 18 Jul 1990 Death of Yun Bo-seon, President of South Korea (1960–62). 25 18 Jul 1990 Death of Karl Menninger, pioneering American psychiatrist. Co-founder of the Menninger Foundation and the Menninger Clinic. 25 19 Jul 1990 The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum was officially dedicated in Yorba Linda, California, USA. (Nixon’s birthplace and grave are located within its grounds.) 25 20 Jul 1990 The IRA bombed the London Stock Exchange. The explosion tore a 10-foot hole in the wall, but no one was hurt. 25 20 Jul 1990 Iran-Contra Scandal: former National Security Council staff member Colonel Oliver North’s convictions were declared void by an appeals court. (All convictions were completely dismissed in Sept 1991.) 25 21 Jul 1990 The Wall rock concert was held in East Berlin, East Germany to celebrate the dismantling of the Berlin Wall. More than 150,000 people attended. 25 21 Jul 1990 Death of Stanley Shapiro, award-winning American screenwriter and television producer. Best known for the Doris Day films Lover Come Back, That Touch of Mink and Pillow Talk. 25 22 Jul 1990 Death of Manuel Puig, Argentine novelist and screenwriter. Best known for Kiss of the Spider Woman. 25 24 Jul 1990 Death of Alan Clarke, British stage, television and film director. Noted for his stark and often controversial plays and films including Scum, Made in Britain, The Firm, and Rita, Sue and Bob Too. 25 26 Jul 1990 The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by U.S. President George H.W. Bush. The Act is designed to protect the disabled from discrimination. 25 26 Jul 1990 Death of Brent Mydland, American rock keyboardist and singer (Grateful Dead). 25 27 Jul 1990 Belarus declared its independence from the Soviet Union. (Full independence established 25th Dec 1991.) 25 27 Jul 1990 The last Citroën 2CV car was produced, in Portugal. 25 27 Jul 1990 Death of Bobby Day, American rock and roll/R&B singer, songwriter and musician. Best known for his hit song Rockin’ Robin. 25 28 Jul 1990 Alberto Fujimoro became President of Peru. 25 29 Jul 1990 Liberian Civil War – St. Peter’s Lutheran Church massacre, Monrovia. Troops loyal to president Samuel Doe opened fire on displaced Liberians who had gathered at the church, killing up to 600 of them. 25 29 Jul 1990 Death of Bruno Kreisky, Chancellor of Austria (1970–83). 25 30 Jul 1990 Death of Ian Gow, British politician. Member of Parliament for Eastbourne, East Sussex. (Killed by an IRA car bomb at his home.) 20 1 Jul 1995 Death of Wolfman Jack, American radio disc jockey, known for his gravelly voice and wolf howls. 20 2 Jul 1995 Death of George Seldes, American investigative journalist and media critic. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 130 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 2 Jul 1995 Death of Krissy Taylor, American fashion/cosmetics model. Sister of supermodel Niki Taylor. (Died from a rare heart condition, aged 17.) 20 3 Jul 1995 Death of Pancho Gonzales, American tennis player. Ranked number 1 in the world (1954–60). 20 3 Jul 1995 Death of Albert (Bert) Hardy, British photojournalist. Best known for his work for Picture Post magazine. 20 4 Jul 1995 British Prime Minister John Major won the Conservative Party leadership election against John Redwood, and remained leader. (He had resigned the party leadership in June after 3 years of verbal attacks, and invited his critics to stand in an election against him.) 20 4 Jul 1995 Death of Eva Gabor, Hungarian-born American actress, socialite and businesswoman. Known for her role in the sitcom Green Acres and as a voice artist in the Disney films The Aristocats, The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under. Sister of Zsa Zsa Gabor. 20 4 Jul 1995 Death of Bob Ross, American artist, teacher and host of the television series The Joy of Painting. 20 6 Jul 1995 Death of Aziz Nesin, Turkish satirist, novelist, short story writer and play- wright whose work attacked bureaucracy and hypocrisy. 20 9 Jul 1995 Navaly church bombing, Sri Lanka. The Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Navaly was bombed by the Sri Lankan Air Force, killing 125 Tamil civilians who were seeking refuge inside. 20 11 Jul 1995 Srebrenica Massacre. The Bosnian Serb Army seized control of Srebrenica and massacred 8,000 men and boys. 20 11 Jul 1995 The USA re-established full diplomatic ties with Vietnam. 20 13 Jul 1995 Death of Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, Danish toy manufacturer and businessman (Lego Group) who developed his father’s business into an international sensation and built the first Legoland theme park. 20 14 Jul 1995 The MP3 digital audio format was officially named. 20 16 Jul 1995 French President Jacques Chirac admitted France’s role in the Holocaust. The Vichy Government deported about 76,000 Jews during World War II. They were transported to Nazi concentration camps and death camps in Germany and Poland. (His speech was given on the anniversary of an event in 1942 when French police rounded up 13,000 Jews and held them at the Paris cycling stadium to be deported to Nazi death camps.) 20 16 Jul 1995 Amazon.com opened its website to the public. 20 16 Jul 1995 Death of May Sarton, Belgian-born American poet, novelist and essayist. 20 16 Jul 1995 Death of Sir Stephen Spender, British poet, novelist, essayist and critic. The first non-American poetry consultant to the U.S. Library of Congress. 20 17 Jul 1995 Death of Juan Manuel Fangio, Argentine racing driver. Formula One world champion five times (1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957). 20 18 Jul 1995 The Soufriere Hills volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat began to erupt. Over the space of several years it devastated the island, destroyed the capital and forced most of the population to flee. 20 19 Jul 1995 Death of Michael Andrews, British artist. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 131 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 20 Jul 1995 Death of Helmut Gernsheim, British photographer and photographic historian. One of the first serious collectors of photographs. 20 21 Jul 1995 Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. China conducted a series of missile tests and (to 23 Mar military exercises in the waters around Taiwan, with the intention of 1996) intimidating the government and voters of Taiwan. The crisis ended in a ceasefire. 20 21 Jul 1995 Death of Elleston Trevor, British novelist and playwright who wrote mysteries, thrillers and adventure stories under various pen names. Best known for The Flight of the Phoenix. 20 22 Jul 1995 Death of Percy Humphrey, American jazz trumpeter and bandleader in New Orleans. 20 22 Jul 1995 Death of Harold Larwood, British cricketer. The main exponent of the controversial ‘bodyline’ bowling style which was denounced as ‘unsportsmanlike’ and ended his career. 20 23 Jul 1995 Bosnian War: Britain sent 1,200 troops to help relieve the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, which was under siege. 20 23 Jul 1995 Two American astronomers, Alan Hale in New Mexico and Thomas Bopp in Arizona, discovered the comet Hale-Bopp. 20 24 Jul 1995 Death of Jerry Lordan, British songwriter and composer. Best known for the hit instrumentals Apache and Wonderful Land, both recorded by The Shadows. 20 24 Jul 1995 Death of George Rodger, British photojournalist. WWII correspondent for Life magazine. Took the first photos of the Bergen-Belsen death camps. 20 24 Jul 1995 Death of Jerzy Toeplitz, Ukrainian-born Polish film historian and writer. (or 25th?) Co-founder and first director of the Polish Film School. Director of the Australian Film and Television School. 20 25 Jul 1995 Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžic was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. (He became a fugitive until July 2008 when he was arrested in Belgrade, Serbia. At the time of writing his trial is still ongoing.) 20 25 Jul 1995 Death of Charlie Rich, Grammy Award-winning American country music singer and musician whose ‘countrypolitan’ sound combined country with jazz, blues, rockabilly, gospel and other genres. Best known for the hit songs Behind Closed Doors and The Most Beautiful Girl. 20 26 Jul 1995 Death of Laurindo Almeida, Grammy Award-winning Brazilian virtuoso classical and jazz guitarist and composer of film soundtrack music (most notably The Godfather). 20 27 Jul 1995 The Korean War Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., USA. 20 27 Jul 1995 Death of Rick Ferrell, American baseball player. 15 1 Jul 2000 The Øresund Bridge, linking Sweden and Denmark, was officially opened. 15 1 Jul 2000 Vermont became the first U.S. state to allow same-sex couples to form civil unions with the same rights and responsibilities as married couples. (Vermont legalised same-sex marriage in Sept 2009.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 132 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 15 1 Jul 2000 Death of Walter Matthau, award-winning American stage, film and television actor. Best known for his collaborations with Jack Lemon in films such as The Odd Couple.

15 1 Jul 2000 Death of Sarah Payne, British child murder victim. (Disappeared 1st July, ? body found 17th July.) 15 2 Jul 2000 Vicente Fox Quesada was elected President of Mexico – the first to be elected from an opposition party after 71 years of continuous rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). 15 2 Jul 2000 Death of Joey Dunlop, Northern Irish world motorcycling champion. 15 10 Jul 2000 An oil pipeline in southern Nigeria exploded after being punctured by fuel thieves. At least 250 people were killed. (Similar incidents occurred in Oct 1998, 16th July 2000, Nov 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008.) 15 11 Jul 2000 Death of Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury (1980–91). 15 17 Jul 2000 Bashar al-Assad became President of Syria. 15 23 Jul 2000 American golfer Tiger Woods, aged 24, became the youngest player to win the Grand Slam. 15 25 Jul 2000 An Air France Concorde crashed outside Paris shortly after taking off for New York, killing all 109 people on board and four people on the ground. 15 26 Jul 2000 A U.S. federal judge approved a $1.25 billion settlement between Swiss banks and more than half a million plaintiffs who alleged the banks had hoarded money deposited by Holocaust victims. 10 1 Jul 2005 Death of Obie Benson, American soul/R&B singer and songwriter (the Four Tops). 10 1 Jul 2005 Death of Luther Vandross, award-winning American soul and R&B singer, songwriter and producer. 10 2 Jul 2005 Live 8. Ten concerts were held simultaneously around the world in an effort to persuade G8 leaders to fight poverty in Africa. (On 7th July G8 leaders pledged to double the amount of aid to poor nations to $50 billion per year by 2010 – half of this money would go to Africa.) 10 2 Jul 2005 Death of Ernest Lehman, American screenwriter and film producer (North by Northwest, Sabrina, West Side Story, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Sound of Music, and more). 10 2 Jul 2005 Death of Norm Prescott, American animation producer. Co-founder of Filmation. 10 3 Jul 2005 Same-sex marriage was legalised in Spain (the third country to do so). 10 3 Jul 2005 Death of Gaylord Nelson, U.S. politician and conservationist. Governor of Wisconsin (1959–62), U.S. Senator (1962–80). Founder of Earth Day. 10 4 Jul 2005 Hurricane Dennis caused massive damage in Cuba, Haiti, Florida and (to 13th) other parts of the Caribbean. At least 89 people were killed. 10 4 Jul 2005 NASA’s Deep Impact space probe released an impactor which crashed into the comet Tempel 1, creating a crater and debris that revealed the interior of the comet’s nucleus. (The massive dust cloud unexpectedly obscured the view of the impact crater, but analysis of the debris showed the nucleus to be more dusty and less icy than expected.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 133 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 4 Jul 2005 Death of Hank Stram, American football coach (Kansas City Chiefs). 10 5 Jul 2005 Death of James Stockdale, U.S. Navy vice admiral. Medal of Honor recipient. One of the most highly decorated officers in the history of the U.S. Navy. As the highest-ranking naval officer held as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam, he endured extensive torture. 10 6 Jul 2005 The International Olympic Committee announced that London would host the 2012 Olympic Games. 10 6 Jul 2005 Death of L. Patrick Gray III, American lawyer and government official. Acting director of the FBI at the time of the Watergate Scandal, and made a scapegoat and forced to resign. His innocence only became apparent in 2005 when Mark Felt (‘Deep Throat’) admitted he was the source of leaks to the press. 10 6 Jul 2005 Death of Ed McBain (pen name of Evan Hunter, original name Salvatore Lombino), best-selling American crime novelist and screenwriter. Best known for his 87th Precinct series of police procedurals. 10 6 Jul 2005 Death of Claude Simon, French novelist. Winner of the 1985 Nobel Prize for Literature.

10 7 Jul 2005 7th July London bombings – a coordinated series of 4 suicide bomb attacks on London’s transport system during the morning rush hour. 56 people were killed, including the 4 bombers, and more than 700 were injured. It was the worst-ever terrorist attack on Britain, and the country’s first attack by suicide bombers. (See also 21st July below.) 10 9 Jul 2005 Death of Yevgeny Grishin, Russian speed-skater. Olympic 500m and 1500m champion (1956 and 1960). 10 10 Jul 2005 Death of A. J. Quinnell (pen name of Philip Nicholson), British thriller novelist. Best known for Man on Fire. 10 11 Jul 2005 Death of Gretchen Franklin, British stage and television actress who worked in show business for nearly 80 years. Best known for her role as Ethel Skinner in the BBC TV soap opera EastEnders. 10 11 Jul 2005 Death of Frances Langford, American singer and film actress who entertained thousands of U.S. troops on Bob Hope’s U.S.O. Tours. 10 12 Jul 2005 Death of John King, Baron King of Wartnaby, British businessman. Chief executive of British Airways who privatised the loss-making state-owned company and turned it one of the world’s most successful airlines. 10 13 Jul 2005 The former CEO of WorldCom, Bernard Ebbers, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of the largest accounting fraud in U.S. history (until 2008). (He began his sentence in Sept 2006.) 10 14 Jul 2005 Death of Dame Cicely Saunders, British physician and social worker who established the modern hospice movement. 10 17 Jul 2005 Death of Sir Edward Heath, British Prime Minister (1970–74). 10 17 Jul 2005 Death of Geraldine Fitzgerald, Irish-born American stage and film actress. Best known for her supporting roles (The Mill on the Floss, Wuthering Heights, Arthur, and more). 10 18 Jul 2005 Death of William Westmoreland, United States Army general. Commander of U.S. military operations during the Vietnam War. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 134 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 19 Jul 2005 Death of John Tyndall, British political activist, associated with the far- right. Chairman of the National Front (1976–80). Chairman of the British National Party (BNP) (1982–99). 10 20 Jul 2005 Same-sex marriage was legalised in Canada (the fourth country to do so). 20 Jul 2005 Death of Charles Chibitty, Comanche code talker who relayed messages between U.S. Army units in Europe during WWII. He and his fellow code talkers spoke in their native language to prevent the messages from being deciphered by the Germans. 10 20 Jul 2005 Death of James Doohan, Canadian actor. Best known for playing Montgomery (‘Scotty’) Scott, chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise, in the Star Trek TV series and films.

10 21 Jul 2005 21st July London bombings – four suicide bombers attempted to carry out a second attack on London’s transport network, two weeks after the previous attack. However, only the detonators exploded and the bombs failed to go off. 1 person was injured. A fifth bomber dumped his bomb without attempting to set it off. 10 21 Jul 2005 Death of Long John Baldry, influential British-born Canadian blues musician and voice artist. 10 22 Jul 2005 Death of Jean Charles de Menezes, Brazilian electrician, shot dead by police in London after being challenged and refusing to obey an order. (The police were hunting fugitives who carried out the previous day’s failed bomb attacks.) 10 22 Jul 2005 Death of Eugene Record, American soul/R&B singer (The Chi-Lites). 10 23 Jul 2005 Sharm el-Sheikh terrorist attacks, Egypt. Islamist terrorists carried out a series of bomb attacks on the resort city, killing 88 people and injuring about 200. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in Egyptian history. 10 24 Jul 2005 Death of Richard Doll, British epidemiologist who established the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. 10 25 Jul 2005 Death of Albert Mangelsdorff, German jazz trombonist. 10 26 Jul 2005 The U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on the first ‘return to flight’ mission following the Columbia Disaster of 2003. (The problem of insulating foam being shed from the external fuel tank during launch occurred again, though this time it did not strike the spacecraft.) 10 26 Jul 2005 Death of Betty Astell, British actress. Best known for appearing with her husband on his television series The Cyril Fletcher Show. One of the first people to appear on John Logie Baird’s experimental television broadcasts. 10 28 Jul 2005 The IRA ended its 30-year armed campaign in Northern Ireland and ordered all units to dump their weapons. Its leadership stated that they would continue their campaign exclusively through peaceful means. 10 28 Jul 2005 A tornado hit the city of Birmingham, England, injuring 19 people and causing £40 million ($67.5 million) worth of damage. 10 30 Jul 2005 Death of John Garang, Sudanese rebel leader and politician. First Vice President of Sudan (2005). (Killed in a helicopter crash.)

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Ann. Date Event 10 31 Jul 2005 Death of Wim Duisenberg, Dutch economist. First president of the European Central Bank (1998–2003). Oversaw the introduction of the euro.

AUGUST 2015

Ann. Date Event 800 24 Aug 1215 Pope Innocent III declared the Magna Carta null and void – though many English feudal barons refused to accept it. 750 4 Aug 1265 Second Barons’ War – the Battle of Evesham, England. Royal victory. Prince Edward (later King Edward I) led his army to victory against the rebellious baronial forces. The leader of the barons, Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, was killed along with many of his allies. 700 19 Aug 1315 Louis X of France married Clementia of Hungary. 600 18 Aug 1415 Hundred Years’ War – the Siege of Harfleur (France). English victory – (to 22 Sept) Henry V and his army captured the town. 400 22 Aug 1615 Birth of Christopher Gibbons, English composer, organist and teacher. ? (Baptised on this date. Actual date of birth not known.) 300 1 Aug 1715 The Riot Act came into effect in England. Local authorities could declare any group of 12 or more people who disturbed the peace to be unlawfully assembled and required to disperse within 1 hour or face prosecution. 300 6 Aug 1715 Birth of Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues, French moralist and essayist. 250 14 Aug 1765 Colonists in Boston, Massachusetts staged their first challenge to British rule – a protest against the Stamp Act. The elm tree where they met became a famous rallying point for the resistance movement, and it became known as the Liberty Tree. 250 18 Aug 1765 Death of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (1745–65), Duke of Lorraine (as Francis Stephen, 1729–35), Grand Duke of Tuscany (1737–65). (His wife, Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, was the real power behind these positions.) 250 21 Aug 1765 Birth of William IV, King of the United Kingdom and Hanover (1830–37). 200 1 Aug 1815 Birth of Richard Henry Dana, Jr., American lawyer and politician. Best known for his memoir Two Years Before the Mast. 200 2 Aug 1815 Death of Guillaume Brune, French soldier, Marshal of France. (Murdered by royalists during the second White Terror.) 200 5 Aug 1815 Birth of Edward John Eyre, British explorer of Australia and controversial Governor of Jamaica who crushed a rebellion with what was considered excessive force (although he was acquitted by a jury). 200 10 Aug 1815 Death of Handsome Lake, Seneca religious leader who led the revival of traditional religion among the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy.

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Ann. Date Event 200 16 Aug 1815 Birth of Saint John Bosco, Italian priest & educator. Founded the Salesian Order. Dedicated his life to educating poor/disadvantaged children. 200 29 Aug 1815 Birth of Anna Ella Carroll, American political campaigner, writer, pamphleteer and presidential adviser. (The credibility of some of her claims is disputed.) 175 7 Aug 1840 The British Parliament passed the Chimney Sweepers and Chimneys Regulation Act (1840) which banned the use of climbing children to clean the inside of chimneys. (The Act was widely ignored until 1875 when legislation was put in place to enforce it.) 175 10 Aug 1840 The American Society of Dental Surgeons was founded. 150 2 Aug 1865 Birth of Irving Babbitt, American literary and cultural critic. Founder of the New Humanism movement. 150 9 Aug 1865 Birth of Janie Porter Barrett, pioneering American welfare worker and educator. Founder of the Virginia Industrial School for Colored Girls – a rehabilitation centre for African American delinquents. 150 10 Aug 1865 Birth of Aleksandr (also spelled Alexander) Glazunov, important Russian symphonic composer. 150 12 Aug 1865 British surgeon Joseph Lister became the first person in the world to use an antiseptic dressing (lint dipped in carbolic acid – now known as phenol) to treat a wound. The wound healed successfully and his results were reported in the medical journal The Lancet in 1867. 150 12 Aug 1865 Death of Sir William Hooker, British botanist. First director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 150 13 Aug 1865 Death of Ignaz Semmelweis, Hungarian physician who pioneered the use of antiseptics and significantly reduced the incidence of the often-fatal puerperal fever (childbed fever) in maternity hospitals. 150 15 Aug 1865 Birth of Mikao Usui, Japanese founder of Reiki – a complementary therapy for the treatment of physical, emotional and mental diseases. 150 20 Aug 1865 The Gastein Convention was signed by Austria and Prussia. It stipulated how the Elbe Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg were to be governed. 150 24 Aug 1865 Birth of Ferdinand I, King of Romania (1914–27). 150 25 Aug 1865 Birth of Arthur Hinsley, Archbishop of Westminster (1935–43). Noted for his condemnation of the fascist powers during WWII. 150 26 Aug 1865 Birth of Arthur James Arnot, Scottish-born Australian electrical engineer and inventor. Best known for patenting the world’s first electric drill. 150 26 Aug 1865 Death of Johann Franz Encke, German astronomer who calculated the period of Comet Encke (subsequently named after him) and discovered the Encke Gap (also called the Encke Division) in the outer ring of Saturn. A crater on the Moon is also named in his honour. 150 27 Aug 1865 Birth of James Henry Breasted, American archaeologist, Egyptologist and historian. 150 27 Aug 1865 Birth of Charles G. Dawes, Vice-President of the United States (1925–29). Joint winner of the 1925 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on WWI reparations (the Dawes Plan). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 137 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 27 Aug 1865 Death of Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Canadian politician, judge and writer. Best known for creating the character Sam Slick. 125 5 Aug 1890 Britain and France agreed to divide West Africa between them. 125 6 Aug 1890 The first execution by electric chair in the USA. Convicted murderer William Kemmler was executed at Auburn Prison in New York. 125 7 Aug 1890 The last woman to be executed in Sweden: Anna Månsdotter (‘the Yngsjö murderess’) for the murder of Hanna Johansdotter. 125 20 Aug 1890 Birth of H. P. Lovecraft, American writer. A master of Gothic horror, science fiction, fantasy and weird fiction. 125 27 Aug 1890 Birth of Man Ray, American modernist photographer, artist and film- maker who played a major role in the Dada and Surrealist movements. 100 3 Aug 1915 Birth of Pete Newell, Canadian-born American basketball coach. 100 4 Aug 1915 Birth of Warren Avis, American entrepreneur. Founded Avis Rent A Car. 100 5 Aug 1915 World War I: the city of Warsaw in Poland was occupied by Germany following the Russian evacuation. 100 5 Aug 1915 The Galveston hurricane hit the Caribbean and southern and eastern USA (to 23rd) and Canada, causing massive destruction. Up to 400 people were killed. Worst hit was the city of Galveston, Texas, USA – also hit 15 years earlier. 100 6 Aug 1915 World War I – the Gallipoli Campaign – the Battle of Sari Bair. (to 21st) Ottoman victory. 100 10 Aug 1915 Death of Henry Moseley, British physicist who showed that the major properties of an element, including its electrical charge, are determined by its atomic number not its atomic weight. (Killed in the Battle of Suvla Bay, Turkey during WWI.) 100 12 Aug 1915 The novel Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham was published. 100 12 Aug 1915 Birth of Michael Kidd, Tony Award-winning American stage and film choreographer and dancer (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Band Wagon, Hello, Dolly!, and more). 100 13 Aug 1915 World War I: the Allied troopship HMT Royal Edward was sunk by a German U-boat in the Aegean Sea. The estimated number of casualties ranges from 132 to 1,865, though 935 seems to be the most reliable figure. 100 14 Aug 1915 Birth of Max Klein, American inventor of ‘paint by numbers’. 100 14 Aug 1915 Birth of Victor Mishcon, Baron Mishcon, British solicitor and Labour politician whose firm acted for Diana, Princess of Wales in her divorce. 100 15 Aug 1915 Birth of Signe Hasso, Swedish-born American stage, film and television (or 1910?) actress, writer and songwriter (Heaven Can Wait, The Seventh Cross, The House on 92nd Street, A Scandal in Paris, A Double Life, and more). 100 16 Aug 1915 Birth of Al Hibbler, blind American R&B/pop singer. Best known for his work with the Duke Ellington Band. He was also a successful solo artist. 100 19 Aug 1915 Birth of Ring Lardner, Jr., Academy Award-winning American journalist and screenwriter. One of the ‘Hollywood Ten’ who were blacklisted by studios during the Red Scare of the 1940s–50s. His films include Woman of the Year, Forever Amber and M*A*S*H. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 138 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 20 Aug 1915 Death of Paul Ehrlich, German physician and scientist, known for his pioneering work in haematology, immunology and chemotherapy. Discovered the first effective treatment for syphilis. Joint winner of the 1908 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his contributions to immunology. 100 21 Aug 1915 World War I: Italy declared war on the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey). 100 21 Aug 1915 Tsar Nicholas II assumed the role of commander-in-chief of the Russian armed forces after dismissing his cousin Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich. 100 22 Aug 1915 Birth of David Dellinger, influential American peace activist. 100 22 Aug 1915 Birth of James Hillier, Canadian-born American physicist. Co-developer of the first practical and commercially successful electron microscope. 100 22 Aug 1915 Birth of Hugh Paddick, British actor. Best known for his sketches (such as Julian and Sandy) on the 1960s BBC radio show Round the Horne. 100 22 Aug 1915 Birth of Edward Szczepanik, last Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile (1986–90). 100 24 Aug 1915 Birth of James Tiptree, Jr. (pen name of Alice Bradley Sheldon), American science fiction writer. 100 27 Aug 1915 Birth of Norman Foster Ramsey, Jr., American physicist. Joint winner of the 1989 Nobel Prize for Physics for his work on the separated oscillatory fields method, which enabled the precise measurement of time using atomic clocks. 100 28 Aug 1915 Birth of Tasha Tudor, American writer and illustrator of children’s books. 100 29 Aug 1915 Birth of Ingrid Bergman, award-winning Swedish film actress. Best known for the films Casablanca and Notorious. 90 5 Aug 1925 The Welsh nationalist political party Plaid Cymru was founded. 90 8 Aug 1925 The Ku Klux Klan held its first national march on Washington. Approximately 40,000 members took part. 90 12 Aug 1925 Birth of Norris McWhirter, British writer, television presenter and political activist. Co-founder of the Guinness Book of Records with his twin brother Ross. (Died 2004.) 90 12 Aug 1925 Birth of Ross McWhirter, British writer, television presenter and political activist. Co-founder of the Guinness Book of Records with his twin brother Norris. (Died 1975 – assassinated by the IRA.) 90 14 Aug 1925 Norway officially gained sovereignty over Spitsbergen, as the Svalbard Treaty of 1920 came into effect. 80 2 Aug 1935 Birth of Hank Cochran, American country music singer, songwriter and musician who wrote songs for numerous performers including Patsy Cline, Bing Crosby and Elvis Costello. (Died 2010.) 80 3 Aug 1935 Birth of Georgi Shonin, Soviet-Ukrainian cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz 6 mission in 1969. Hero of the Soviet Union. A member of the original group of cosmonauts selected in 1960. (Died 1997.) 80 11 Aug 1935 Death of Sir William Watson, British poet. Best known for his poems (or 13th?) about national events. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 139 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 12 Aug 1935 Birth of John Cazale, American stage and film actor (The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, The Deer Hunter). (Died 1978.) 80 13 Aug 1935 Birth of Rod Hull, British television entertainer, known for his appearances with Emu, an aggressive hand puppet. (Died 1999.) 80 14 Aug 1935 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, creating unemployment insurance and pension plans for the elderly. 80 15 Aug 1935 Death of Wiley Post, famous American aviator. The first person to fly solo around the world. (Plane crash.) 80 15 Aug 1935 Death of Will Rogers, popular American cowboy performer, humorist and actor. (Killed in the same plane crash as Wiley Post – see above.) 80 15 Aug 1935 Death of Paul Signac, French neo-impressionist artist who helped develop pointillism with Georges Seurat. 80 17 Aug 1935 Death of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, prominent American feminist, writer and lecturer who served as a role model for feminists because of her exceptional achievements as a woman. 80 21 Aug 1935 Death of John Hartley, British tennis champion. The world number 1 player in 1879 and 1880 – he won Wimbledon both years. The only clergyman to win Wimbledon. 80 29 Aug 1935 Death of Astrid of Sweden, Queen of the Belgians (1934–35), wife of King Leopold III. (Killed in a car crash, aged 29.) 80 30 Aug 1935 Birth of John Phillips, (‘Papa John’), American singer, songwriter and guitarist (The Mamas & the Papas). (Died 2001.) 80 30 Aug 1935 Death of Henri Barbusse, French war novelist. Best known for Le Feu (published in English as Under Fire), a first-hand account of the lives of French soldiers during WWI. 80 31 Aug 1935 The U.S. Congress passed the Neutrality Act, prohibiting the export of ‘arms, ammunition, and implements of war’ to foreign nations at war. 80 31 Aug 1935 Birth of Eldridge Cleaver, American writer and political activist who renounced his past as a member of the Black Panthers. Known for his autobiographical collection of essays Soul On Ice. (Died 1998.) 75 1 Aug 1940 The book Why England Slept by John F. Kennedy (later U.S. President) was published. It is a critical examination of Britain’s entry into WWII, originally written as a Harvard thesis. (Although the official publication date is 1st Aug, the book seems to have been widely available in July.) 75 2 Aug 1940 A French court martial sentenced General Charles de Gaulle to death for treason against the Vichy government. (De Gaulle was in Britain, where he remained until 1944. He became President of France in 1959.) 75 3 Aug 1940 World War II: Italy invaded British Somaliland (now Somalia). 75 3 Aug 1940 Lithuania became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. 75 4 Aug 1940 World War II: Italy invaded Kenya and Sudan. 75 4 Aug 1940 Birth of Timi Yuro, American pop singer and songwriter. Known for her husky, soulful voice. (Died 2004.)

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Ann. Date Event 75 4 Aug 1940 Death of Vladimir Jabotinsky (also known as Ze’ev Jabotinsky), Russian (or 3rd?) Zionist leader and writer. Founder of the militant Zionist Revisionist movement. Established a number of Jewish organisations. 75 5 Aug 1940 Latvia became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. 75 5 Aug 1940 Death of Frederick A. Cook, controversial American physician and explorer who claimed to have been the first to reach the North Pole and the summit of Mount McKinley. 75 7 Aug 1940 World War II: Germany annexed Alsace-Lorraine, France. 75 8 Aug 1940 Death of Johnny Dodds, influential American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist. Known for his virtuosity and blues-heavy sound. 75 9 Aug 1940 Estonia became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. 75 10 Aug 1940 Birth of Bobby Hatfield, American singer (the Righteous Brothers). (Died 2003.) 75 15 Aug 1940 World War II: the Greek cruiser Elli was sunk by an Italian submarine in Tinos harbour. (The Greek government announced that the attack was carried out by a submarine of unknown nationality, in an attempt to preserve its neutrality, but it entered the war on 28th October with the out- break of the Greco-Italian War.) 75 15 Aug 1940 The first issue of the Jewish Weekly newspaper was published in the Nazi- occupied Netherlands. This was the only newspaper that Dutch Jews were allowed to read and its contents were controlled and censored by the Germans, preventing the Jews from gaining information about their fate. 75 16 Aug 1940 World War II: the Communist Party was banned in German-occupied Norway. 75 16 Aug 1940 Death of Henri Desgrange, French cyclist and journalist who founded the Tour de France. 75 17 Aug 1940 World War II: Germany began a naval blockade of the British Isles. 75 17 Aug 1940 The USA and Canada established the Permanent Joint Board on Defence. 75 17 Aug 1940 Death of Billy Fiske, American RAF pilot and the 1928 (5-man) and 1932 (4-man) Olympic champion bobsleigh pilot. Killed in action during WWII. 75 18 Aug 1940 Death of Walter P. Chrysler, American engineer, car manufacturer and industrialist who founded the Chrysler Corporation. 75 19 Aug 1940 The North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber made its first flight. It was used by several Allied air forces during WWII. (A B-25 famously crashed into the Empire State Building in New York City in July 1945.) 75 20 Aug 1940 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill paid tribute to the Royal Air Force in a famous House of Commons speech, saying, ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’ 75 21 Aug 1940 Death of Ernest L. Thayer, American writer and poet. Best known for his baseball-themed poem Casey at the Bat. 75 21 Aug 1940 Death of Leon Trotsky, Russian Marxist revolutionary. (Assassinated in Mexico City with an ice axe.)

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Ann. Date Event 75 22 Aug 1940 Death of Sir Oliver Lodge, British physicist and writer. Played a key role in the development of wireless telegraphy. Perfected the coherer (a primitive radio wave detector). 75 24 Aug 1940 Death of Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, German engineer and television pioneer who invented the Nipkow disk – a spinning perforated disk that could scan images (used by John Logie Baird to develop the first mechanical television system). 75 25 Aug 1940 World War II: the British RAF bombed the German capital Berlin for the (to 26th) first time. 75 26 Aug 1940 World War II: Chad became the first French colony to rejoin the Allies following France’s surrender to Germany. 75 26 Aug 1940 Birth of Don LaFontaine, American voice actor. The distinctive voice behind thousands of melodramatic movie trailers and TV advertisements. Often began his trailers with the words: ‘In a world where…’ (Died 2008.) 75 27 Aug 1940 The experimental Caproni-Campini N.1 (also known as the C.C.2) made its first flight, in Milan, Italy. (At the time it was listed as the world’s first successful jet-powered plane, though it was later discovered that Germany’s Heinkel He 178 made the first jet-powered flight in Aug 1939.) 75 29 Aug 1940 Birth of Gary Gabelich, American racing driver and world land speed record holder. The first to break 1,000 km/h (621 mph). (Died 1984.) 75 30 Aug 1940 World War II: the Second Vienna Award. The territory of Northern Transylvania in Romania was transferred to Hungary. (The Allies returned it to Romania in September 1944.) 75 30 Aug 1940 Death of Sir J. J. Thomson, British physicist. Winner of the 1906 Nobel Prize for Physics for discovering the electron. 70 1 Aug 1945 World War II: the city of Toyama in Japan was almost totally destroyed by (to 2nd) U.S. incendiary bombs. 70 6 Aug 1945 World War II: the U.S. Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. The centre of the city was totally destroyed and approximately 80,000 people were killed immediately. A further 60,000 people died by the end of the year due to injury or radiation. It was the first city in history to be hit by a nuclear weapon. (See also 9th Aug below.) 70 8 Aug 1945 World War II: the Soviet Union entered the Pacific War exactly 3 months after the war in Europe ended, as agreed at the Yalta Conference in February. It declared war on Japan and immediately (12:01 am on 9th Aug) invaded the puppet state of Manchuria. 70 8 Aug 1945 The Nuremberg Charter (also known as the London Charter of the International Military Tribunal) was signed by the USA, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. It authorised the Nuremberg trials and stipulated the laws and procedures to be followed. 70 9 Aug 1945 World War II: the U.S. Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki, Japan. The north of the city was destroyed and approximately 40,000 people were killed immediately. A further 33,000+ died by the end of the year. It was the second (and last) city to experience a nuclear attack. 70 12 Aug 1945 The Soviet Union began its occupation of North Korea. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 142 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 70 14 Aug 1945 The Kyujo Incident, Japan – an attempted military coup aimed at preventing the Japanese Government from surrendering in WWII. Two (failed) attempts were made to assassinate Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki. (The surrender went ahead, and the leaders of the coup committed suicide two days later.) 70 14 Aug 1945 World War II: V-J Day. Japan announced its unconditional surrender, ending WWII in the Pacific. (The war officially ended on 2nd Sept when Japan signed the surrender document.) 70 14 Aug 1945 August Revolution, Vietnam. Viet Minh victory. Emperor Bao Dai was (to 30th) persuaded to abdicate on 25th, the empire was dissolved, and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) was established on 2nd September. 70 15 Aug 1945 World War II: the Allies liberated South Korea from the Japanese.

70 15 Aug 1945 Korea was divided along the 38th parallel into the Soviet-occupied North Korea and the U.S.-occupied South Korea. 70 15 Aug 1945 World War II: the Philippines Campaign ended. The Allies liberated the Philippines from the Japanese, though a small amount of fighting continued until 2nd Sept. 70 16 Aug 1945 World War II: Emperor Puyi of Manchukuo was captured by the Soviet Red Army. (Puyi was also the last Emperor of China and the final ruler of the Qing Dynasty.) 70 17 Aug 1945 Indonesia declared its independence from the Netherlands. (Recognised by the Netherlands in December 1949.) 70 18 Aug 1945 Death of Subhas Chandra Bose, Indian nationalist. Leader of a WWII force that attempted (unsuccessfully) to liberate the Indian military from British rule. 70 25 Aug 1945 Death of John Birch, Indian-born American military intelligence officer and Baptist missionary in China. Killed by armed supporters of the Communist Party of China. He is considered to be the the first victim of the Cold War. 70 29 Aug 1945 The U.S. Government terminated its Lend-Lease program which had shipped $50 billion in aid to its allies during WWII. 70 29 Aug 1945 World War II: American General Douglas MacArthur became Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan. 70 30 Aug 1945 World War II: Hong Kong was liberated by British forces. 70 31 Aug 1945 The Liberal Party of Australia was founded. 65 1 Aug 1950 Guam became an unincorporated territory of the USA and its people became U.S. citizens.

65 1 Aug 1950 King Leopold III of Belgium announced his abdication (effective from 16th July 1951. Succeeded by his son Baudouin on 17th.) 65 3 Aug 1950 Korean War: the U.S. Army issued an involuntary recall of 30,000 enlisted men to active duty to fight in the war. The majority were members of the Organized Reserve Corps. They were ordered to report for duty in Sept. 65 15 Aug 1950 Birth of Princess Anne, the Princess Royal. Member of the British Royal Family. Daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 143 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 65 15 Aug 1950 Assam-Tibet Earthquake. The largest known earthquake to have been caused by two continental plates converging, rather than by an oceanic subduction. Over 1,500 people were killed and 30,000 injured. 65 16 Aug 1950 Joseph Pholien became Prime Minister of Belgium. 65 19 Aug 1950 ABC began broadcasting Saturday morning television shows for children in the USA. 65 25 Aug 1950 American tennis player Althea Gibson became the first black player to compete internationally. 65 27 Aug 1950 The BBC transmitted the first-ever live TV pictures across the Channel. 65 29 Aug 1950 Korean War: the first British troops arrived in Korea to bolster the U.S. presence there. 60 2 Aug 1955 Death of Wallace Stevens, Pulitzer Prize-winning American modernist poet. 60 3 Aug 1955 Hurricane Connie hit Puerto Rico, the eastern U.S. states and Ontario, (to 15th) Canada, killing 74 people. 60 3 Aug 1955 The English-language première of the play Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, at the Arts Theatre in London. 60 5 Aug 1955 Death of Carmen Miranda, (‘the Brazilian Bombshell’), popular Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer, dancer and Broadway actress. Noted for her signature Tutti Frutti hat which she wore in many films, including The Gang’s All Here. 60 6 Aug 1955 Birth of Rusty Magee, American composer, lyricist, comedian and actor. (Died 2003.) 60 7 Aug 1955 Hurricane Diane hit the eastern USA, hard on the heels of Hurricane (to 21st) Connie. It reached peek intensity on 12th Aug and caused widespread flooding and damage. North Carolina, the Mid-Atlantic states and New England were badly affected. At least 174 people were killed. 60 7 Aug 1955 Bar-Ilan University opened in Ramat Gan, Israel. It is now the second- largest academic institution in Israel.

60 8 Aug 1955 The 26th of July Movement was founded in Mexico by a group of exiled revolutionaries including Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. They aimed to overthrow the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista – which they did in January 1959. 60 8 Aug 1955 Atoms for Peace Conference, Geneva, Switzerland: the first United (to 20th) Nations International Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy. 60 11 Aug 1955 Burhanuddin Harahap became Prime Minister of Indonesia. 60 12 Aug 1955 Death of Thomas Mann, German novelist, short story writer, essayist and social critic. Winner of the 1929 Nobel Prize for Literature. 60 12 Aug 1955 Death of James B. Sumner, American biochemist. Joint winner of the 1946 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his discovery that enzymes can be crystallised, revealing their protein nature. 60 14 Aug 1955 Death of Herbert Putnam, American librarian. The longest-serving Librarian of the U.S. Congress (1899–1939) who built it into a world- renowned institution. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 144 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 16 Aug 1955 The Italian automotive company Fiat ordered the world’s first private nuclear reactor to power one of its manufacturing plants. (The experimental reactor began operating in 1959 and ran until 1971.) 60 17 Aug 1955 Death of Fernand Léger, French artist, sculptor and film-maker. His work was influenced by Cubism and is considered a forerunner of Pop Art. 60 20 Aug 1955 Anti-French riots in Algeria and Morocco. Hundreds of people killed. 60 23 Aug 1955 Death of Reginald Tate, British stage, film and television actor. Best known for his role as Professor Bernard Quatermass in the science fiction TV series The Quatermass Experiment. 60 27 Aug 1955 The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records (now Guinness World Records) was published. 60 27 Aug 1955 Death of Joachim Wach, German-born American religious scholar and educator. 60 28 Aug 1955 Death of Emmett Till, African American teenager who was mutilated and killed in Mississippi after flirting with a white woman. His death was one of the key events that motivated the Civil Rights Movement. 60 31 Aug 1955 The ‘Sunmobile’, the world’s first solar-powered car, was demonstrated at the General Motors Powerama show in Chicago, Illinois, USA. (It was 15 inches long.) 60 31 Aug 1955 Birth of Gary Webb, Pulitzer Prize-winning American investigative journalist. Particularly noted for his investigation of drug smuggling into the USA by CIA-backed Nicaraguan Contras. (Died 2004 – suicide.) 50 1 Aug 1965 The British Government banned cigarette advertising on television. (Cigars and loose tobacco continued to be advertised on TV until 1991.) 50 4 Aug 1965 The Cook Islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand. 50 5 Aug 1965 1965 Indo-Pakistani War (also known as the Second Kashmir War). (to 23rd Sep) Result: UN mandated ceasefire. 50 6 Aug 1965 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 came into effect in the USA, guaranteeing every adult American’s right to vote and banning electoral discrimination. 50 6 Aug 1965 The Beatles’ album Help! was released. 50 6 Aug 1965 Birth of Mark Speight, British television presenter. Best known for hosting the children’s art series SMart. (Died 2008 – suicide.) 50 6 Aug 1965 Death of Aksel Sandemose, Danish-born Norwegian experimental novelist. 50 6 Aug 1965 Death of Everett Sloane, American stage, film, radio and television actor, voice actor, songwriter and theatre director (Citizen Kane, Lust for Life, the voice of Dick Tracy in The Dick Tracy Show animated TV series). 50 7 Aug 1965 American author Ken Kesey held an infamous party at his ranch in California, where his Merry Pranksters group of hippies introduced the Hells Angels motorcycle gang to psychedelic drugs. 50 8 Aug 1965 Death of Shirley Jackson, American novelist and short story writer. Best known for her short story The Lottery, one of the most famous short stories in the history of American literature, and banned in South Africa. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 145 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 9 Aug 1965 Singapore was expelled from Malaysia and became an independent country. 50 9 Aug 1965 53 maintenance workers were killed in a Titan II missile silo in Searcy, Arkansas, USA after accidentally cutting through a high-pressure hydraulic line, causing a fire and oxygen loss. 50 11 Aug 1965 Watts Riots, Los Angeles, California. 6 days of race riots erupted (to 17th) following an incident between a white member of the California Highway Patrol and an African American motorist. 34 people were killed, over 1,000 injured and more than 3,000 arrested. More than $40 million worth of damage was caused. 50 12 Aug 1965 Elizabeth Lane was appointed as Britain’s first female High Court judge. 50 13 Aug 1965 Death of Hayato Ikeda, Prime Minister of Japan (1960–64). Played a key role in Japan’s economic growth after WWII. 50 14 Aug 1965 Death of Jan van Nijlen, Belgian poet and writer. 50 15 Aug 1965 British rock group The Beatles played to more than 55,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York City, USA. The famous event set attendance and revenue records which paved the way for future stadium rock concerts. 50 18 Aug 1965 Vietnam War: Operation Starlite – the first major U.S. ground battle of the (to 24th) war. Result: indecisive. 50 19 Aug 1965 The Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials ended in Germany. 22 people were charged for their roles in the Holocaust. 17 of them received prison sentences, including 6 who were jailed for life. 50 20 Aug 1965 Ilias Tsirimokos became Prime Minister of Greece (for 1 month). 50 20 Aug 1965 The song (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones was released in the UK. (USA: 6th June. It was their first #1 hit in the USA.) 50 21 Aug 1965 NASA launched its Gemini 5 manned spacecraft. The two-man crew set a new record for space flight duration (8 days), demonstrating that a return trip to the Moon was possible. They returned to Earth safely on 29th Aug. 50 22 Aug 1965 Death of Ellen Church, American airline stewardess. The world’s first female flight attendant. 50 23 Aug 1965 Death of Jan Bata, Czech shoe manufacturer. 50 27 Aug 1965 Death of Le Corbusier, Swiss-born French architect and city planner. 50 30 Aug 1965 The album Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan was released. 50 31 Aug 1965 The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy wide-bodied cargo plane made its first flight. 50 31 Aug 1965 Death of E. E. (‘Doc’) Smith, influential American science fiction writer. Known as ‘the father of the space opera’. Best known for his Skylark and Lensman series. 40 1 Aug 1975 The Helsinki Accords were signed by 35 nations in an attempt to improve relations between the Communist Bloc and the West. The Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (now the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) was created. 40 3 Aug 1975 The Louisiana Superdome (now the Mercedes-Benz Superdome) opened in New Orleans. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 146 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 4 Aug 1975 AIA Building hostage crisis, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Japanese Red (to 5th) Army (JRA), a communist militant organisation, took 53 hostages at the American Insurance Associates Building, which housed several international embassies. Hostages included the U.S. consul and the Swedish chargé d’affaires. All hostages were released unharmed after the Malaysian Government released 5 JRA leaders from prison. 40 4 Aug 1975 Birth of Andy Hallett, American singer and actor. Best known for his role as Lorne in the television series Angel. (Died 2009.) 40 8 Aug 1975 The Banqiao Reservoir Dam in China collapsed during heavy flooding caused by Typhoon Nina. The surge of water caused 61 smaller dams to fail. 229,000 people were killed and 11 million made homeless. 40 8 Aug 1975 Death of Cannonball Adderley, popular American jazz saxophonist. 40 9 Aug 1975 Death of Dmitri (also spelled Dmitry) Shostakovich, prominent Russian composer and pianist. 40 11 Aug 1975 East Timor coup. The Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) staged a coup against the Fretilin pro-independence party, forcing Governor Mário Lemos Pires to flee. This incident led to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in December. 40 11 Aug 1975 Death of Anthony McAuliffe, United States Army general. Acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division during the WWII Battle of the Bulge. Best known for his one-word reply ‘Nuts!’ in response to a Nazi order to surrender. 40 15 Aug 1975 Military coup in Bangladesh. The President, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, and most of his family were killed and a military government was established. 40 15 Aug 1975 British rock singer and musician Peter Gabriel quit the band Genesis. 40 16 Aug 1975 Death of Vladimir Kuts, Soviet-Ukrainian athlete and coach. 1956 Olympic champion in both the 5,000m and 10,000m. 40 19 Aug 1975 Death of Mark Donohue, American racing driver and engineer. Winner of the 1972 Indianapolis 500. 40 20 Aug 1975 NASA launched its Viking 1 space probe on a mission to Mars. It became the first spacecraft to land successfully on Mars and complete its mission. 40 23 Aug 1975 Communist coup in Laos. (King Savang Vatthana was forced to abdicate in December, the monarchy was abolished and the country became a republic. The country remains a single-party communist dictatorship.) 40 24 Aug 1975 Death of Charles Revson, American businessman. Co-founder of the Revlon cosmetics company. 40 25 Aug 1975 The album Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen was released. 40 25 Aug 1975 Death of John R. Dunning, American physicist, engineer and educator whose experiments in nuclear fission led to the development of the atomic bomb. 40 27 Aug 1975 British cyclists Colin and Veronica Scargill completed the first round-the- world tandem bicycle ride. They began their journey in Feb 1974 and cycled 18,020 miles. 40 27 Aug 1975 Death of Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia (1930–74). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 147 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 28 Aug 1975 Death of Fritz Wotruba, Austrian sculptor. (or 25th?) 40 29 Aug 1975 Death of Eamon de Valera, President of Ireland (1959–73). 30 3 Aug 1985 American football player and actor O. J. Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (He was involved in two murder trials in 1994 and 1997 and is currently serving a 33-year prison sentence for kidnapping and armed robbery.) 30 6 Aug 1985 Death of Forbes Burnham, President of Guyana (1980–85). 30 8 Aug 1985 Death of Louise Brooks, iconic American film actress and dancer. Best known for the film Pandora’s Box and for her distinctive bobbed hairstyle. 30 10 Aug 1985 American pop singer Michael Jackson bought ATV Music Publishing for $47.5 million, giving him the rights to almost every song by The Beatles. 30 12 Aug 1985 Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashed into Mount Ogura, killing 520 people. It remains the world’s worst single-plane air disaster. 30 14 Aug 1985 Death of Gale Sondergaard, American stage and film actress. The first- ever winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her film roles include Anthony Adverse, The Cat and the Canary, The Mark of Zorro, and Anna and the King of Siam. 30 15 Aug 1985 Richard Branson’s speedboat Virgin Atlantic Challenger capsized off south- west England as he attempted the fastest-ever Atlantic crossing. (In 1986 he successfully beat the record by 2 hours in Virgin Atlantic Challenger II.) 30 16 Aug 1985 American pop singer Madonna married actor Sean Penn. 30 17 Aug 1985 House of Hope was founded in Orlando, Florida, USA by former school- teacher Sara Trollinger in order to help troubled teenagers. The organisation (later known as National House of Hope) now runs a network of Houses of Hope across the USA. 30 18 Aug 1985 Japan launched its Suisei spacecraft on a mission to fly past Halley’s Comet (which it did successfully in March 1986). 30 19 Aug 1985 Hans Tiedge, the head of West German counter-intelligence, defected to East Germany and was unmasked as an East German spy. 30 22 Aug 1985 Manchester air disaster, England. A British Airtours Boeing 737 burst into flames at Manchester Airport after an engine caught fire and a fuel tank ruptured. 55 people were killed. 30 24 Aug 1985 Death of Paul Creston, American composer. 30 25 Aug 1985 Death of Samantha Smith, American schoolgirl and goodwill ambassador whose letter to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov expressing her fear of a nuclear war resulted in a personal invitation to visit his country, which she accepted. (Killed in a plane crash, aged 13.) 30 27 Aug 1985 The Nigerian government was overthrown by Army Chief of Staff General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. 30 28 Aug 1985 Death of Ruth Gordon, award-winning American stage, film and television actress and writer. Her film roles include Rosemary’s Baby, Harold and Maude, and Every Which Way but Loose. 30 30 Aug 1985 Death of Taylor Caldwell, popular British-born American novelist. Known for her family sagas and historical fiction. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 148 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 30 30 Aug 1985 Death of Philly Joe Jones, American jazz drummer. One of the major percussionists of the bop era. Best known for his work with the Miles Davis Quintet. 30 31 Aug 1985 Richard Ramirez, the notorious ‘Night Stalker’ serial killer, was captured and beaten by a mob in Los Angeles, California, USA after being recognised from a police mug shot shown on TV and in newspapers. 30 31 Aug 1985 Death of Sir (Frank) Macfarlane Burnet, Australian physician, immunologist and virologist. Joint winner of the 1960 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovering acquired immunological tolerance, which is important in organ transplantation. 25 1 Aug 1990 Death of Norbert Elias, German-born British sociologist. Best known for The Civilizing Process: The History of Manners.

25 2 Aug 1990 Gulf War. On 2nd Aug Iraq invaded Kuwait. On 6th the United Nations (to 28 Feb Security Council ordered a global trade embargo against Iraq. On 7th the 1991) USA launched Operation Desert Shield, sending U.S. forces to Saudi Arabia to prevent an Iraqi invasion. On 8th Iraq took full control of Kuwait and installed a puppet government. This led to Operation Desert Storm (17 Jan 1991 – 28 Feb 1991). Coalition victory. 25 2 Aug 1990 Kattankudy mosque massacre, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. 30 Tamil rebels raided 4 mosques and attacked 300 Muslim worshippers with automatic rifles and hand grenades. 147 people were killed. 25 2 Aug 1990 Death of Norman Maclean, American writer, scholar and educator. Best known for his books A River Runs Through It and Other Stories and Young Men and Fire. 25 6 Aug 1990 The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, and her government were dismissed from office by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan over charges of corruption. (She became Prime Minister again in Oct 1993.) 25 6 Aug 1990 Birth of JonBenét Ramsey, American child beauty pageant contestant and murder victim. (Died 1996.) 25 6 Aug 1990 Death of Jacques Soustelle, French anthropologist and politician. Minister (or 7th?) of Information and Minister of the Colonies. Played a key role in Charles de Gaulle’s return to power. 25 9 Aug 1990 Death of Joe Mercer, British football player and manager. 25 10 Aug 1990 NASA’s Magellan space probe arrived at Venus after a 15-month journey from Earth and began its mission to map the planet. 25 12 Aug 1990 The most complete fossilised skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex ever found was discovered in South Dakota, USA. Nicknamed ‘Sue’, it is over 80% complete and is now on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. 25 12 Aug 1990 Death of B. Kliban, popular American cartoonist. Best known for his work for Playboy magazine, and for his book Cat. 25 17 Aug 1990 Death of Pearl Bailey, award-winning American stage, film and television actress, singer, entertainer and writer. 25 18 Aug 1990 Death of B. F. Skinner, American psychologist and educator. Known for his studies of human behaviour. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 149 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 19 Aug 1990 American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein conducted his final concert. (He announced his retirement from conducting on 9th Oct and died on 14th Oct.) 25 23 Aug 1990 Armenia declared its independence from the Soviet Union. (Fully independent from 21st Sept 1991.) 25 23 Aug 1990 Iraqi President Saddam Hussein appeared on state television with a number of Western ‘guests’, who were actually hostages. He denied they were human shields, but said their presence in Iraq would prevent war. The move was widely condemned. 25 23 Aug 1990 Death of David Rose, award-winning American songwriter, composer, arranger, pianist and orchestra leader. Best known for The Stripper, Holiday for Strings and Calypso Melody, and for his theme music for TV series including Highway to Heaven, Little House on the Prairie and Bonanza. 25 24 Aug 1990 Irish teacher and writer Brian Keenan was released after being held hostage in Beirut, Lebanon, for more than 4 years. 25 24 Aug 1990 Judas Priest subliminal messages trial. A U.S. judge cleared the British heavy metal band Judas Priest of causing the death of two fans who committed suicide after listening to their music. 25 25 Aug 1990 Death of Morley Callaghan, Canadian novelist, short story writer, playwright and TV/radio personality. 25 26 Aug 1990 Death of Mário Pinto de Andrade, Angolan poet and politician. A leading figure in the Angolan independence movement. 25 27 Aug 1990 Guinness Four found guilty. All 4 defendants in the long-running Guinness trial were found guilty of trying to drive up the share price of the Guinness company during takeover talks. (They were given prison sentences and heavy fines, though one, Jack Lyons, did not serve his sentence due to ill health.) 25 27 Aug 1990 BBC Radio Five Live was launched. 25 27 Aug 1990 Death of Raymond St Jacques, American actor. Best known for his role as Simon Blake in the television series Rawhide. He was the first black actor to appear in a regular role in a western series. 25 27 Aug 1990 Death of Stevie Ray Vaughan, American blues/rock guitarist, singer and record producer. (Helicopter crash.) 25 28 Aug 1990 Plainfield Tornado, Illinois, USA. 29 people were killed and 350+ injured. 25 31 Aug 1990 East and West Germany signed a reunification treaty. (They officially reunified on 3rd October.) 20 1 Aug 1995 The Westinghouse Electric Corporation bought CBS for $5.4 billion. (The company was subsequently bought by Viacom in 2000 for $37 billion. Viacom was formed by CBS in 1952 as a spin-off company, then known as CBS Films.) 20 1 Aug 1995 The first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was held, at the Plaza Hotel, New York City, USA. 20 3 Aug 1995 Death of Ida Lupino, British-born American film and television actress, director and screenwriter. One of Hollywood’s first female directors.

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Ann. Date Event 20 4 Aug 1995 Croatian War of Independence – Operation Storm. The last major battle of (to 7th) the war. Decisive Croatian victory. 20 5 Aug 1995 Death of Agha Hasan Abedi (also spelled Abadi), Indian-born Pakistani financier who founded the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. (BCCI was the 7th largest bank in the world but collapsed in 1991 due to a money laundering scandal.) 20 7 Aug 1995 Death of Brigid Brophy, British novelist, writer, literary critic and feminist. An outspoken campaigner on issues including animal rights, authors’ rights, vegetarianism, human rights, pornography, and more. 20 9 Aug 1995 The computer services company Netscape went public and began trading its shares on the stock market. (It was acquired by AOL in 1998.) 20 9 Aug 1995 Death of Jerry Garcia, American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter (the Grateful Dead). 20 10 Aug 1995 Oklahoma City bombing: Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were indicted for the bombing. Their accomplice Michael Fortier pleaded guilty to his role and agreed to testify against them in a plea-bargain. 20 11 Aug 1995 Death of Phil Harris, American singer, songwriter, bandleader, actor, entertainer and comedian. Starred in the radio sitcom The Jack Benny Program, played the voice of Baloo the bear in Disney’s The Jungle Book, Little John in Robin Hood and Thomas O’Malley in The Aristocats. 20 13 Aug 1995 Death of Alison Hargreaves, British mountaineer. The first woman to climb Mount Everest solo and without the aid of supplementary oxygen. (Killed in a storm while descending K2, along with the American mountaineer Rob Slater and their Spanish and New Zealand team mates.) 20 13 Aug 1995 Death of Mickey Mantle, American baseball player. One of the greatest players in baseball history. 20 14 Aug 1995 The Battle of Britpop. British bands Blur and Oasis released competing singles on the same day, launching a chart battle that was spurred on by the media. Blur won the battle, with their song Country House reaching #1 by the end of the week while Oasis’s song Roll With It reached #2. 20 15 Aug 1995 Death of Humphrey Sims Moore, British pacifist and journalist. Founder of Peace News magazine. 20 15 Aug 1995 Death of John Cameron Swayze, popular American news anchorman and TV game show panellist of the 1950s. 20 17 Aug 1995 A bomb exploded at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. 17 people were injured. The Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA) claimed responsibility. 3 further bombs were planted over the following 3 weeks, only one of which exploded, injuring 14 people at a Jewish school in Lyon. 20 17 Aug 1995 Death of William Strethan (‘Wild Bill’) Davis, American jazz organist, (or 22nd?) pianist and arranger who popularised the Hammond organ in jazz. 20 17 Aug 1995 Death of Howard E. Koch, Academy Award-winning American play- wright and screenwriter (Casablanca, Shining Victory, Letter from an Unknown Woman, Mission to Moscow). Blacklisted by Hollywood in the 1950s for his outspoken leftist political views. 20 17 Aug 1995 Death of David Warrilow, British stage actor. Noted for his interpretations of works by Samuel Beckett. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 151 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 19 Aug 1995 Death of John Gilmore, American avant-garde jazz saxophonist and (or 20th?) drummer. Best known for his work with Sun Ra. 20 19 Aug 1995 Death of Pierre Schaeffer, French experimental composer and electronics engineer. One of the chief developers of musique concrete. 20 21 Aug 1995 Death of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Indian-born American astro- physicist. Joint winner of the 1983 Nobel Prize for Physics for his discoveries relating to the later evolutionary stages of massive stars. 20 23 Aug 1995 Death of Alfred Eisenstaedt, German-born American photographer. (or 24th?) One of the first and most important photojournalists. 20 23 Aug 1995 Death of Gordon White, Baron White of Hull, British businessman and takeover expert. Co-founded Hanson PLC. Known for his ruthlessness. 20 24 Aug 1995 Microsoft released Windows 95 (with an extensive marketing campaign). 20 25 Aug 1995 Death of John Brunner, award-winning British science fiction and fantasy novelist (Stand on Zanzibar, The Sheep Look Up, The Shockwave Rider). 20 26 Aug 1995 The International Rugby Board lifted all restrictions on payments in (or 27th?) Rugby Union, allowing professional players to take part and ending its amateurs-only status. 20 26 Aug 1995 Death of John Costello, controversial Scottish-born WWII historian and writer who gained access to U.S. and KGB archives and wrote several books on international espionage. 20 26 Aug 1995 Death of Ronnie White, American R&B singer and songwriter (The Miracles). 20 26 Aug 1995 Death of Evelyn Wood, American teacher and businesswoman who coined the term ‘speed reading’ and developed and taught a speed reading system called Reading Dynamics. 20 27 Aug 1995 Death of Dick Bentley, Australian comedian, actor and entertainer. Best known the BBC Radio series Take It From Here, in which he starred with Jimmy Edwards. 20 27 Aug 1995 Death of Carl Giles, British cartoonist. Best known for his work with the (or 28th?) Daily Express newspaper. Voted ‘Britain’s Favourite Cartoonist of the 20th Century’. 20 28 Aug 1995 Bosnian War – the Siege of Sarajevo – the second Markale market massacre. The Army of the Republika Srpska carried out a mortar attack on the crowded open-air market, killing 37 people and injuring more than 80. (The market was first attacked in Feb 1994, killing 68 people.) 20 28 Aug 1995 Death of Michael Ende, German children’s writer. Best known for his fantasy stories including The Neverending Story, Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver and Momo. 20 28 Aug 1995 Death of Michael VerMeulen, American journalist and magazine editor. Best known as the editor of the British GQ magazine. 20 29 Aug 1995 Death of Frank Perry, American film director and producer (Diary of Mad Housewife, David & Lisa, Mommy Dearest, and more). 20 30 Aug 1995 NATO Intervention in Bosnia – Operation Deliberate Force. A sustained (to 20 Sept) air campaign against the Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS) after it attacked UN-designated safe areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 152 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 30 Aug 1995 Death of Sterling Morrison, American rock guitarist (The Velvet Underground). 20 31 Aug 1995 Death of J(ohn) Erik Jonsson, American businessman and philanthropist. Co-founder and president of Texas Instruments. Mayor of Dallas (1964–71).

15 4 Aug 2000 Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother celebrated her 100th birthday. 15 5 Aug 2000 Death of Sir Alec Guinness, Academy Award-winning British stage and film actor (Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, A Passage to India, Star Wars, and more). 15 8 Aug 2000 The American Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley was raised from the sea bed in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, USA. (It sank in 1864 and was the first submarine to sink an enemy warship in combat – though it apparently also sank itself in the process.) 15 12 Aug 2000 The Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea when its hull was damaged by a series of explosions. All 118 crew members died. 15 15 Aug 2000 A group of 100 people from North Korea arrived in South Korea for a temporary reunion with relatives they had not seen for 50 years. In exchange, a group of 100 South Koreans visited North Korea. 10 1 Aug 2005 Death of Fahd, King of Saudi Arabia (1982–2005). Succeeded by his half- brother Crown Prince Abdullah. 10 2 Aug 2005 Death of Steven Vincent, American writer and journalist. (Abducted and killed in Iraq after criticising religious extremism and corruption by Shia militias.) 10 3 Aug 2005 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became President of Iran. 10 3 Aug 2005 The President of Mauritania, Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya, was over- thrown in a military coup while attending the funeral of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia (see 1st Aug above). He went into exile in Qatar and was succeeded by Ely Ould Mohamed Vall. 10 4 Aug 2005 A Russian mini-submarine carrying 7 crew became caught on fishing nets and a military antenna 190m (620 feet) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean off the east coast of Russia. Russian attempts to release the submarine failed, but it was cut free on 7th August using a British-owned robotic craft. The crew were unharmed. (See also 12th Aug 2000 above.) 10 5 Aug 2005 Death of Seungseop Lee, South Korean computer game addict. (Died of exhaustion after playing StarCraft continuously for about 50 hours.) 10 6 Aug 2005 Death of Robin Cook, British Foreign Secretary (1997–2001). 10 6 Aug 2005 Death of Ibrahim Ferrer, Cuban singer. Best known for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club. 10 7 Aug 2005 Death of Peter Jennings, Canadian-born American journalist and news anchor. Best known for ABC’s World News Tonight. 10 8 Aug 2005 Death of Barbara Bel Geddes, American stage, film and television actress. Best known for her role as Miss Ellie in the TV series Dallas. 10 8 Aug 2005 Death of John H. Johnson, award-winning American publisher. Founder of the Johnson Publishing Company. The first African American to appear on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 153 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 9 Aug 2005 Death of Matthew McGrory, American film and television actor, noted for his great height (Bubble Boy, Big Fish, Malcolm in the Middle, Charmed and more). Listed in Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest actor (7 feet 6 inches – 2.29 metres). 10 9 Aug 2005 Death of Judith Rossner, American novelist. Best known for Looking for Mr. Goodbar and August. 10 12 Aug 2005 Death of Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lankan foreign minister. (Assassinated by a Tamil Tigers sniper at his home.) 10 12 Aug 2005 Death of John Loder, British sound engineer and record producer. Founder of Southern Studios. Best known for his work with the punk band Crass. 10 13 Aug 2005 Death of David Lange, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1984–89). 10 16 Aug 2005 Death of Vassar Clements, (‘the Father of Hillbilly Jazz’), Grammy Award-winning American jazz, swing and bluegrass fiddler. 10 16 Aug 2005 Death of Tonino Delli Colli, award-winning Italian cinematographer (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, Once Upon a Time in America, The Name of the Rose, and more). 10 16 Aug 2005 Death of Joe Ranft, American screenwriter, animator and voice actor. Known for his work with Pixar and Disney on several of their biggest productions, including Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, and more. (Killed in a car crash.) 10 17 Aug 2005 Bangladesh bombings. Terrorists exploded more than 500 bombs at 300 locations across Bangladesh. 2 people were killed and 50 injured. (The two main perpetrators were captured in Mar 2006 and executed in May 2007.) 10 17 Aug 2005 Death of John N. Bahcall, American astrophysicist. Known for his work on solar neutrinos and the Hubble Space Telescope. 10 18 Aug 2005 American serial killer Dennis Rader (the BTK killer) was sentenced to 10 consecutive life terms – minimum 175 years without parole – after being convicted of murdering 10 people in Kansas between 1974 and 1991. 10 19 Aug 2005 Southern Ontario Tornado Outbreak, Canada. A series of thunderstorms spawned several tornadoes and caused flash flooding in Toronto and the surrounding area. Around $500 million worth of damage was caused. No deaths or injuries were reported. 10 19 Aug 2005 The U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. was found liable for the death of a Texas man who had taken the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx. The jury awarded his widow $253 million in damages, though this was later reduced to $26.1 million – the maximum allowed under Texas state law. This paved the way for thousands of similar claims. (Vioxx, also known as Rofecoxib, was withdrawn in Sept 2004 over safety concerns.) 10 19 Aug 2005 Peace Mission 2005 – the first-ever joint military exercise between Russia (to 25th) and China. 10 19 Aug 2005 Death of Mo Mowlam, British politician. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1997–99). Played a key role in the successful peace negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement. 10 21 Aug 2005 Death of Robert Moog, American electrical engineer who invented the electronic music synthesizer. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 154 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 22 Aug 2005 The last Israeli settlers left the Gaza Strip, ending 38 years of occupation. Evacuees were given compensation totalling $870 million (£540 million) though it was several years before it was paid out, and the legal hurdles the claimants had to go through to get it was strongly criticised. 10 23 Aug 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the Bahamas, Cuba and the southern U.S. states. (to 30th) The city of New Orleans, Louisiana was particularly badly affected when the levee system failed, flooding 80% of the city for several weeks. Florida and Mississippi also suffered severe damage. Over 1,800 people were killed. It was the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. 10 23 Aug 2005 Death of Brock Peters, American stage, film and television actor (To Kill a Mockingbird, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Soylent Green). 10 31 Aug 2005 Al-Aaimmah bridge stampede, Baghdad, Iraq. Rumours of a suicide bomber in a religious procession attended by 1 million people led to a stampede across the closed bridge. Nearly 1,000 people were killed in the crush or drowned when railings gave way. 10 31 Aug 2005 Death of Sir Joseph Rotblat, Polish-born British physicist and philanthropist. Winner of the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions towards nuclear disarmament. 10 31 Aug 2005 Death of Michael Sheard, Scottish film and television actor. Best known for his roles as deputy headmaster Mr. Bronson in the children’s TV series Grange Hill and as Admiral Ozzel in the film The Empire Strikes Back.

SEPTEMBER 2015

Ann. Date Event 2000 24 Sep 15 Birth of (Aulus) Vitellius, Roman Emperor (AD 69, for 8 months). 1300 26 Sep 715 Frankish Civil War – the Battle of Compiègne (now in north-east France). The first battle of the war. Neustrian victory. 800 23 Sep 1215 Birth of Kublai Khan, Mongolian Emperor (1260–94). Founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China. 600 21 Sep 1415 Birth of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and German king. 500 13 Sep 1515 War of the League of Cambrai – the Battle of Marignano (Italy). Franco- (to 14th) Venetian victory. Following this battle Switzerland swore it would remain forever neutral.

500 22 Sep 1515 Birth of Anne of Cleves, Queen of England (1540). 4th wife of King Henry VIII (marriage annulled). 400 1 Sep 1615 Death of Étienne Pasquier, French lawyer, poet and writer. Noted for his (or 30 Aug?) encyclopaedic historical work Recherches de la France (Research of France). 400 25 Sep 1615 Death of Lady Arbella Stuart, English noblewoman. Claimant to the English throne. 300 1 Sep 1715 Death of Louis XIV, (the Sun King), King of France and Navarre (1643–1715). Succeeded by Louis XV. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 155 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 300 1 Sep 1715 Death of François Girardon, French sculptor. Best known for his extensive decorative work at the Palace of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV. 300 6 Sep 1715 Jacobite Uprisings: the Earl of Mar proclaimed James III the rightful sovereign, leading to a Jacobite uprising throughout Scotland and in parts of England. 300 15 Sep 1715 Birth of Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval, French military officer and engineer. An artillery specialist who revolutionised the French cannon, which led to great military successes in the Napoleonic Wars. 300 22 Sep 1715 Birth of Jean-Étienne Guettard, French geologist and minerologist. The first to survey and map the geological features of France and to identify the volcanic origins of Auvergne in central France. 300 30 Sep 1715 Birth of Étienne Bonnot de Condillac, French philosopher, psychologist and logician. 250 18 Sep 1765 Birth of Pope Gregory XVI. 250 22 Sep 1765 Birth of Paolo Ruffini, Italian mathematician, physician and educator. 250 30 Sep 1765 Birth of José María Morelos, Mexican revolutionary and priest. Leader of the Mexican War of Independence movement. Executed for treason in 1815. 200 7 Sep 1815 Birth of Howell Cobb, American politician. Speaker of the House of Representatives (1849–51), Governor of Georgia (1851–53), Secretary of the Treasury (1857–60). A founder of the Confederate States of America. President of the Provisional Confederate States Congress (1861–62). 200 9 Sep 1815 Death of John Singleton Copley, American portrait artist, also known for his historical scenes. Active in the USA and England. Regarded as the finest artist of colonial America. 200 20 Sep 1815 Death of Nicolas Desmarest, French geologist. Best known for proving (or 28th?) that basalt is volcanic in origin, thereby disproving the theory that all rocks were sedimentary. 200 24 Sep 1815 Death of John Sevier, American soldier, frontiersman and politician. The first Governor of Tennessee (1796–1801, 1803–09). 200 26 Sep 1815 The Holy Alliance was formed by Russia, Prussia and Austria. 200 29 Sep 1815 The Order of the Netherlands Lion (a Dutch order of chivalry equivalent to Britain’s Order of the Bath) was established by King William of the Netherlands. 200 29 Sep 1815 Birth of Andreas Achenbach, German landscape artist, associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting. 175 21 Sep 1840 Birth of Murad V, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1876 for 3 months). 175 23 Sep 1840 British photography pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot invented the calotype process, which used a gallic acid solution and light-sensitive paper coated with silver iodide. A key part of this innovation was that it produced translucent negatives from which multiple prints could be made. (The process was made public in Feb 1841.) 150 1 Sep 1865 British surgeon Joseph Lister performed the first surgery using antiseptics. He used a carbolic acid solution to sterilise surgical instruments and clean wounds to prevent microbes from entering. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 156 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 2 Sep 1865 Death of Sir William Rowan Hamilton, Irish mathematician. Made major contributions to the fields of optics, dynamics and algebra, and his work was important in the development of quantum mechanics. 150 3 Sep 1865 Birth of Wilhelm Bousset, German biblical (New Testament) scholar and theologian. 150 11 Sep 1865 Birth of Rainis, important Latvian poet, playwright and translator. 150 11 Sep 1865 Death of Christophe Louis Léon Juchault de Lamoricière, French Army general. Noted for his role in the conquest of Algeria, where he also acted as temporary Governor-General in 1845. 150 13 Sep 1865 Birth of Maud Ballington Booth, British-born American Salvation Army leader and co-founder of the Volunteers of America. 150 19 Sep 1865 Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University) was founded in Georgia, USA. 150 23 Sep 1865 Birth of Baroness Emmuska Orczy, Hungarian-born British novelist. Best known for The Scarlet Pimpernel. 150 26 Sep 1865 Birth of Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford, British aviator and ornithologist. Founded several hospitals. A member of the Women’s Tax Resistance League (part of the women’s suffrage movement). 150 28 Sep 1865 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson became the first woman in Britain to qualify as a physician and surgeon. As a woman she was barred from practising medicine in any hospital, so she founded her own practice. (She later also became the first female to qualify as a physician in France, and was the first female mayor and magistrate in Britain.) 150 30 Sep 1865 Death of Samuel David Luzzatto, Italian Jewish scholar, writer and poet. 125 9 Sep 1890 Birth of Colonel Sanders (Harland Sanders), American businessman and restaurateur. Founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). 125 12 Sep 1890 The city of Salisbury, Rhodesia was founded. (It is now Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.) 125 15 Sep 1890 Birth of Dame Agatha Christie, award-winning British crime/mystery writer. The best-selling novelist of all time. Created popular characters including Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Also known for Murder on the Orient Express, the long-running play The Mousetrap, and many more. 125 24 Sep 1890 The Mormon Church officially renounced polygamy. (Or 6th Oct 1890?) 125 25 Sep 1890 Sequoia National Park was established in California, USA. 100 5 Sep 1915 The Zimmerwald Conference was held in Switzerland. The anti-war (to 8th) conference was organised by anti-militarist socialist parties that were neutral at the outbreak of WWI. 100 6 Sep 1915 Birth of Franz Josef Strauß, German politician and cabinet minister. Leader of the Christian Social Union. Minister-President of Bavaria. 100 7 Sep 1915 American writer Johnny Gruelle was granted a patent for his Raggedy Ann doll. (Raggedy Andy was introduced in 1920.) 100 9 Sep 1915 The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History) was founded in Washington D.C., USA. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 157 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 9 Sep 1915 Death of Al(bert) Spalding, American baseball player and businessman. Co-founder of the A. G. Spalding sporting goods company (now called Spalding and known for its balls). 100 10 Sep 1915 Birth of Edmond O’Brien, Academy Award-winning American stage, film and television actor (D.O.A., The Barefoot Contessa, White Heat, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Wild Bunch, and more). 100 11 Sep 1915 Death of Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, Canadian-born American rail- way executive. President of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Helped create the Cuba Railroad Company. 100 15 Sep 1915 Birth of Helmut Schön, German football player and manager. Managed the West German national team (1964–78). 100 16 Sep 1915 The first Women’s Institute in Britain was established, in Anglesey, North Wales. 100 17 Sep 1915 Birth of M. F. Husain, celebrated Indian artist. Noted for his vibrant, modified-Cubist-style paintings. 100 19 Sep 1915 Birth of Elizabeth Stern, Canadian-born American pathologist. Noted for her study of the stages of a cell’s progression from normal to cancerous. 100 21 Sep 1915 Stonehenge was sold at auction and bought by Cecil Chubb for £6,600 ($10,500). It is thought that it was intended as a gift for his wife, but as she was less than pleased with it he gave it to the nation in Oct 1918. 100 21 Sep 1915 Death of Anthony Comstock, American reformer and anti-vice/morality campaigner. Noted for his campaigns for the censorship of obscenity, especially in pornography and literature. 100 22 Sep 1915 Birth of Arthur Lowe, British stage and television actor. Best known for his role as Captain Mainwaring in the WWII-based TV sitcom Dad’s Army. 100 23 Sep 1915 Birth of Clifford Shull, American physicist. Joint winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize for Physics for his development of neutron-scattering techniques, particularly neutron diffraction. 100 25 Sep 1915 World War I – the Battle of Loos (France). Result: stalemate. (to 14 Oct) 100 25 Sep 1915 World War I – the Second Battle of Champagne (France). German victory. (to 6 Nov) 100 25 Sep 1915 Birth of Ethel Rosenberg, American clerk and Soviet spy. She and her ? husband Julius were convicted of passing U.S. nuclear secrets to the USSR, and were the first civilians to be executed for espionage, in 1953. (Some sources give her date of birth as 28th; her grave says 25th.) 100 26 Sep 1915 Death of (James) Keir Hardie, Scottish socialist politician. Founder and first leader of the Independent Labour Party. Co-founder of the Labour Party. 100 27 Sep 1915 Xavier University of Louisiana officially opened in New Orleans. It is the only black Catholic college in the USA. (It was originally a high school but became a university in 1925 when a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was established.) 100 27 Sep 1915 Death of Remy de Gourmont, prolific French Symbolist poet, novelist, playwright, philosopher and critic. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 158 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 27 Sep 1915 Death of Conrad Theodor van Deventer, Dutch lawyer, statesman and writer. Known for his works about the Dutch East Indies and for his ideas which formed the basis of the Ethical Policy for the Dutch East Indies. 100 29 Sep 1915 New Orleans hurricane. At least 275 people were killed when the hurricane hit Louisiana, USA. 100 30 Sep 1915 Birth of Lester Maddox, American businessman and politician. Governor of Georgia (1967–71). Noted for refusing to serve African Americans at his restaurant (he closed it down rather than comply with the law). 90 3 Sep 1925 The U.S. Navy’s first rigid airship USS Shenandoah was torn apart and crashed during a storm over Ohio. 14 people were killed. 90 3 Sep 1925 The first international handball game was played, in Germany. 90 7 Sep 1925 Birth of Laura Ashley, Welsh designer and businesswoman. Known for her traditional-style printed fabrics which she used to create soft furnish- ings and women’s clothing. Co-founder (with her husband Bernard) of the Laura Ashley textile company and chain of shops. (Died 1985.) 90 8 Sep 1925 Birth of Peter Sellers, award-winning British actor and comedian. Best known for the radio series The Goon Show and for his role as Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series. (Died 1980.) 90 13 Sep 1925 Birth of Mel Tormé, influential American jazz singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, actor and writer. (Died 1999.) 90 16 Sep 1925 Birth of Charles Haughey, Taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland (1979–81, 1982, 1987–92). (Died 2006.) 90 28 Sep 1925 Birth of Seymour Cray, American electronics engineer and computer designer. Known for his supercomputers. (Died 1996.) 80 1 Sep 1935 Death of Abraham Isaac Kook, first chief rabbi of the British Mandate of Palestine. 80 2 Sep 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, Florida Keys, USA. 423 people were killed. 80 3 Sep 1935 British driver Malcolm Campbell set a new world land speed record of 301.13 mph (484.62 km/h) in Bluebird at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA. 80 8 Sep 1935 American singer Frank Sinatra made his radio debut, performing on a talent show (Major Bowes’ Original Amateur Hour) as a member of The Hoboken Four. (They won.) 80 10 Sep 1935 Death of Huey Long, U.S. Senator, Governor of Louisiana. (Assassinated.) 80 11 Sep 1935 Birth of Gherman Titov, Soviet-Russian cosmonaut (Vostok 2). Second man to orbit the Earth. First man to make more than one orbit. Hero of the Soviet Union. (Died 2000.) 80 13 Sep 1935 The Niagara Gorge Railroad in New York, USA ceased operations when the track became blocked by a rock slide near Whirlpool Rapids Bridge. 80 13 Sep 1935 American business magnate and aviator Howard Hughes set a new world landplane air speed record (352 mph) in his self-built Hughes H-1 Racer, in California, USA. 80 15 Sep 1935 The Nuremberg Laws were passed in Germany. German Jews were stripped of their citizenship and civil rights, and the swastika became the official symbol of Nazi Germany. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 159 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 17 Sep 1935 Birth of Ken Kesey, American novelist, short story writer and essayist. Associated with the counter-culture revolution. Best known for his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. (Died 2001.) 80 18 Sep 1935 Birth of John Spencer, British world champion snooker player. (Died 2006.) 80 19 Sep 1935 Death of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, pioneering Soviet-Russian research scientist. One of the founding fathers of rocketry and astronautics. 80 20 Sep 1935 Birth of David Pegg, British footballer. One of the 8 Manchester United players killed in the 1958 Munich air disaster. 80 21 Sep 1935 Birth of Henry Gibson, American film and television actor, comedian, poet and songwriter. Best known for his roles in the TV series Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, Nashville and Boston Legal. (Died 2009.) 80 28 Sep 1935 Death of William Kennedy Dickson, Scottish inventor who developed an early movie camera whilst working for Thomas Edison. He also invented the first practical celluloid film for movie cameras and chose the 35mm standard still used today. 80 30 Sep 1935 The Hoover Dam was formally dedicated. It is on the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada. 80 30 Sep 1935 George Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess was first performed, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It opened on Broadway on 10th October. 75 2 Sep 1940 World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a ‘destroyers for bases’ agreement with Britain. Britain received 50 mothballed destroyers in exchange for 99-year rent-free leases on various British over- seas territories where the U.S. were allowed to build air or naval bases. 75 3 Sep 1940 Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy became Prime Minister of the Dutch Government in Exile (in London). 75 4 Sep 1940 CBS made the first colour TV broadcast in the USA, from its experimental station W2XAB in New York City. 75 6 Sep 1940 King Carol II of Romania abdicated and was succeeded by his son Michael I. Upon abdication he transferred most of his dictatorial powers to Prime Minister Ion Antonescu. 75 6 Sep 1940 Birth of Elizabeth Murray, American Modernist / Neo-Expressionist / abstract artist. (Died 2007.) 75 7 Sep 1940 World War II: the Blitz – Nazi Germany’s sustained aerial attack on (to 21 May London and other British cities in an attempt to destroy its war 1941) production capabilities. German strategic failure. 75 7 Sep 1940 The Treaty of Craiova was signed by Romania and Bulgaria. Romania returned the southern part of the Dobruja region to Bulgaria. Romanian citizens (about 20% of the population) were resettled in northern Dobruja. 75 7 Sep 1940 Birth of Abdurrahman Wahid, President of Indonesia (1999–2001). (Died 2009.) 75 9 Sep 1940 World War II: the Italian invasion Egypt. Result: inconclusive. (to 16th)

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Ann. Date Event 75 9 Sep 1940 The first remote operation of a computer. American mathematician and electrical engineer George Stibitz of Bell Labs sent commands to a computer in New York over telegraph lines from a teletype machine at the American Mathematical Society conference, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. 75 11 Sep 1940 The Nederlandsche SS (Dutch SS) was established. 75 12 Sep 1940 The Lascaux Caves in France were discovered by four teenagers. The caves contained well-preserved 17,000-year-old Palaeolithic wall paintings. 75 12 Sep 1940 297,000 pounds of gunpowder exploded at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Kenvil, New Jersey, USA. 51 people were killed and over 200 injured. (The cause remains unknown.) 75 13 Sep 1940 World War II: German bombs hit Buckingham Palace in London, causing minor damage. 75 15 Sep 1940 World War II: the Battle of Britain – the turning point. The German Luftwaffe sustained heavy losses. On 17th Sept Hitler abandoned his plan to invade Britain (Operation Sea Lion) after reaching the conclusion that the operation was not viable. 75 15 Sep 1940 Birth of Merlin Olsen, American football player, sports announcer and television actor (Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy). (Died 2010.) 75 16 Sep 1940 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Selective Training and Service Act, establishing the first peacetime military draft in U.S. history. 75 16 Sep 1940 Samuel T. Rayburn became speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives following the death of William B. Bankhead (who died on the 15th). 75 17 Sep 1940 Holocaust: Nazi Germany passed a law which entitled them to seize any valuable possessions from Jews in Germany and German-occupied territories. 75 19 Sep 1940 Holocaust: Polish cavalry officer Witold Pilecki allowed himself to be captured by the Nazis during a street round-up in Warsaw. He was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp where he smuggled out information about the camp’s operation and the atrocities taking place there. He also organised a resistance movement which set up a secret radio station to broadcast camp details to the outside world. (He escaped in April 1943.) 75 22 Sep 1940 World War II: the Japanese invasion of French Indochina. (to 26th) Japanese victory. 75 23 Sep 1940 The George Cross, Britain’s highest civil decoration, was instituted by King George VI to recognise acts of heroism. 75 25 Sep 1940 World War II: a team of mathematicians from the U.S. Army Signals Intelligence Service cracked the Japanese Purple Code (similar to the German Enigma code), allowing them to decipher secret Japanese communications. 75 26 Sep 1940 Death of Walter Benjamin, German literary critic, philosopher, aesthetician and broadcaster. (Committed suicide while escaping from the Nazis.)

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Ann. Date Event 75 27 Sep 1940 World War II: The Tripartite Pact was signed in Berlin by Germany, Japan and Italy. This military alliance marked the founding of the Axis Powers. 75 27 Sep 1940 Death of Julius Wagner-Jauregg, Austrian psychiatrist and neurologist. Winner of the 1927 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovering that paralytic dementia caused by late-stage syphilis (a terminal illness) could be treated by giving the patient malaria (which could then be treated). 75 30 Sep 1940 Birth of Dewey Martin, Canadian drummer (Buffalo Springfield). (Died 2009.) 70 2 Sep 1945 World War II officially ended when representatives from Japan signed the formal surrender document on board the U.S. battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. 70 2 Sep 1945 The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) was founded, with Ho Chi Minh as its first Prime Minister and President. 70 5 Sep 1945 Cold War: Igor Gouzenko, a clerk at the Soviet Union embassy in Ottawa, Canada, defected to Canada, bringing with him more than 100 documents which detailed Soviet espionage activities in the West. This marked the beginning of the Cold War as the people of North America became aware of the magnitude and dangers of Soviet espionage. 70 5 Sep 1945 Iva Toguri (better known as ‘Tokyo Rose’), an American-born Japanese radio propaganda broadcaster during WWII, was arrested by U.S. forces in Yokohama.

70 8 Sep 1945 Following the partitioning of Korea on 15th August, U.S. forces arrived in South Korea to receive the Japanese surrender, while Japanese forces in North Korea surrendered to the Soviets. 70 8 Sep 1945 Former Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo shot himself in an attempted suicide rather than face a WWII war crimes tribunal. (He survived, was convicted of war crimes, and was hanged in December 1948.) 70 9 Sep 1945 World War II: the Second Sino-Japanese War ended. Chinese victory. 70 10 Sep 1945 Former Norwegian Prime Minister Vidkun Quisling was convicted of collaborating with Nazi Germany during WWII, and numerous other crimes, and was sentenced to death. (He was executed on 24th Oct.) 70 10 Sep 1945 Mike the Headless Chicken, an American Wyandotte chicken, was beheaded with the intention of killing him for the family’s meal. He survived (the axe missed his jugular vein and brain stem) and he lived for another 18 months, becoming a celebrity. 70 11 Sep 1945 World War II: the Japanese-run Batu Lintang POW internment camp in Borneo was liberated by the Australian 9th Division. 70 13 Sep 1945 War in Vietnam. This led to the First Indochina War (Dec 1946 – (to 30 Mar Aug 1954). 1946) 70 14 Sep 1945 The Homestead hurricane hit the Leeward Islands, the Turks and Caicos (to 18th) Islands, the Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina, causing significant damage and flooding. 26 people were killed. 70 16 Sep 1945 World War II: Japanese occupying forces in Hong Kong officially surrendered to Britain. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 162 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 70 19 Sep 1945 Nazi propaganda broadcaster William Joyce (‘Lord Haw-Haw’) was sentenced to death by a British court after being convicted of treason. (He was executed on 3rd Jan 1946.) 70 20 Sep 1945 Operation Paperclip: 7 German rocket scientists arrived in the USA after being recruited to help develop its ballistic missile and rocket programmes. Among them was Werner von Braun, the ‘Father of Rocket Science’. 70 26 Sep 1945 Death of Béla Bartók, Hungarian composer and pianist. One of the most important composers of the 20th century. 70 30 Sep 1945 Bourne End rail crash, Hertfordshire, UK. 43 people were killed when an express train derailed due to excessive speed (driver error). 65 1 Sep 1950 The constitution of West Berlin came into effect. Although it was associated with West Germany it was not part of it, and was administered by the Western Allies. It was bordered by East Berlin and East Germany. 65 3 Sep 1950 Italian racing driver Giuseppe (‘Nino’) Farina became the first ever Formula One World Champion after winning the 1950 Italian Grand Prix. 65 4 Sep 1950 Korean War: the U.S. Air Force carried out the first helicopter rescue of a downed American pilot from behind enemy lines. Captain Robert E. Wayne was rescued after his plane was shot down by ground fire. 65 4 Sep 1950 The Southern 500, the first 500-mile NASCAR race, was held at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, USA. 65 4 Sep 1950 The comic strip Beetle Bailey by Mort Walker was first published in the USA. (The comic strips are now produced by Mort’s son Greg.) 65 9 Sep 1950 The first episode of the sitcom The Hank McCune Show was broadcast on NBC TV in the USA. It is noted for being the first TV show to use a laugh track. (The show was cancelled after 3 months.) 65 11 Sep 1950 Birth of Barry Sheene, British world champion motorcycle racer. (Died 2003.) 65 12 Sep 1950 The USA proposed the rearming of West Germany and its incorporation into NATO to help with the defence of Europe. (West Germany joined NATO in 1955.) 65 15 Sep 1950 Korean War – the Battle of Inchon. The United Nations staged a daring (to 19th) assault on Inchon, landing thousands of troops behind enemy lines. UN victory. 65 21 Sep 1950 George Marshall became U.S. Secretary of Defense. 65 22 Sep 1950 Korean War – the Second Battle of Seoul. UN victory. The South Korean (to 25th) capital was liberated on 25th (although fighting continued in the suburbs) and was officially returned to President Syngman Rhee on 29th. 65 29 Sep 1950 The first automatic telephone answering machine was tested at Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York, USA. 60 6 Sep 1955 Shukri al-Quwatli became President of Syria for the third time. 60 10 Sep 1955 The Western drama series Gunsmoke was first broadcast on CBS TV in the USA. (It ran until 1975 and was based on the radio series of the same name which ran from 1952 to 1961.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 163 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 10 Sep 1955 Death of Robert Blackburn, British aviation pioneer. Founder of Blackburn Aircraft (now part of Hawker Siddeley). Introduced the first scheduled air service in Britain. 60 11 Sep 1955 The Bern Switzerland Temple was dedicated. It was the first temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be built outside of North America. 60 13 Sep 1955 Hurricane Hilda devastated Cuba’s coffee crop and caused extensive (to 20th) damage and flooding in Mexico. 304 people were killed. (Mexico was also hit by Hurricane Janet just 10 days later – see 22nd Sept below.) 60 15 Sep 1955 Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel Lolita was first published, in Paris, France. (The publisher was best known for its pornographic works and the book was littered with typographical errors. The many attempts to ban it only fuelled its popularity.) 60 16 Sep 1955 Argentine President Juan Perón was overthrown in a military coup and forced into exile until 1973. Lieutenant General Eduardo Lonardi became president but was himself forced out of office after two months by hard- liners who disliked his conciliatory approach. 60 16 Sep 1955 The United States Auto Club (USAC) was founded as the sanctioning body for a number of racing series in the USA. 60 16 Sep 1955 Death of Leo Amery, British statesman and journalist. First Lord of the Admiralty (1922–24), Secretary of State for the Colonies (1924–29), Secretary of State for India and Burma (1940–45). 60 21 Sep 1955 Britain annexed Rockall, an uninhabited granite islet in the North Atlantic, in order to prevent the Soviet Union from placing surveillance equipment there and spying on Britain’s secret nuclear missile tests. 60 22 Sep 1955 Hurricane Janet hit the Caribbean and Mexico, killing over 1,000 people (to 30th) and causing over $65 million worth of damage. 60 22 Sep 1955 Britain’s first independent television channel ITV was launched, ending the BBC’s monopoly and broadcasting Britain’s first television advertisements. (Initially only viewers in London could receive ITV. Regional franchises were rolled out across the whole country until 1965.) 60 25 Sep 1955 The Royal Jordanian Air Force was founded. 60 26 Sep 1955 Birds Eye frozen fish fingers first went on sale in Britain. 60 28 Sep 1955 The World Series (baseball) was broadcast in colour for the first time, on NBC TV in the USA. 60 29 Sep 1955 Arthur Miller’s play A View from the Bridge was first performed, in New York City, USA. 60 30 Sep 1955 Death of James Dean, iconic American film actor (Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, Giant). (Car crash, aged 24.) 50 3 Sep 1965 The First Treblinka Trial ended in Dusseldorf, Germany. 11 members of staff from the Treblinka extermination camp were on trial for war crimes. 4 received life sentences. 50 3 Sep 1965 Death of Otto Lederer, Austria-Hungary/Czech-born American film actor. He appeared in 120 films between 1912 and 1933. Best known for his role as Moisha Yudelson in The Jazz Singer. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 164 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 4 Sep 1965 Death of Albert Schweitzer, German-born French theologian, philosopher, organist, physician and missionary doctor in Africa. Winner of the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize. 50 6 Sep 1965 Sobibór Trial, Hagen, Germany. 12 members of staff from the Sobibór (to Dec extermination camp were tried for war crimes. 1 received a life sentence, 4 1966) received shorter sentences, 6 were acquitted, and 1 committed suicide.) 50 7 Sep 1965 Vietnam War – Operation Piranha: a U.S./South Vietnamese assault on the Batangan Peninsula. The Allied forces stormed a Viet Cong stronghold, killing about 200, but failed to wipe out the Viet Cong 1st Regiment, the majority of whom had left the area before the operation began. 50 8 Sep 1965 Hurricane Betsy caused extensive damage in the Bahamas, southern (to 12th) Florida and Louisiana. 81 people were killed (mainly in Louisiana). 50 8 Sep 1965 Death of Dorothy Dandridge, American singer and film actress. The first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress (Carmen Jones, Island in the Sun, Porgy and Bess). 50 8 Sep 1965 Death of Hermann Staudinger, German chemist. Winner of the 1953 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for demonstrating that polymers are long- chain molecules – which led to the huge expansion of the plastics industry. He also discovered ketenes. 50 9 Sep 1965 Tibet became an autonomous region of China. 50 9 Sep 1965 The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development was founded. 50 9 Sep 1965 Death of Julián Carrillo, Mexican composer, conductor, violinist and music theorist. Best known for developing the theory of microtonal music, of which he was one of the 20th century’s leading exponents. 50 10 Sep 1965 Death of Father Divine, American religious leader. Founder of the International Peace Mission – a precursor of the Civil Rights Movement. 50 11 Sep 1965 Death of Ralph C. Smedley, American founder of Toastmasters International. 50 15 Sep 1965 The first episode of the science fiction series Lost in Space was broadcast on CBS TV in the USA. (It ran for 3 seasons until 1968.) 50 15 Sep 1965 The first episode of the espionage adventure series I Spy was broadcast on NBC TV in the USA. (It ran for 3 seasons until 1968.) 50 17 Sep 1965 Stefanos Stefanopoulos became Prime Minister of Greece. 50 18 Sep 1965 Comet Ikeya-Seki was discovered independently by Japanese astronomers Kaoru Ikeya and Tsutomu Seki. 50 18 Sep 1965 The first episode of the fantasy sitcom I Dream of Jeannie was broadcast on NBC TV in the USA. (It ran for 5 seasons until 1970.) 50 21 Sep 1965 Ted Erikson became the first American to swim a round trip of the English Channel (England-France-England). His record time of 30 hours 3 minutes stood until 1975. 50 26 Sep 1965 Death of James Fitzmaurice, Irish aviation pioneer. Best known as a crew member of the Bremen, which made the first successful east-west transatlantic flight in 1928. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 165 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 27 Sep 1965 Death of Clara Bow, (The ‘It’ Girl), American film actress. One of the leading film stars and sex symbols of the late 1920s. 50 28 Sep 1965 Taal Volcano on the island of Luzon, Philippines erupted. About 200 (to 30th) people were killed. 50 29 Sep 1965 The National Endowment for the Humanities was formed in the USA. 40 1 Sep 1975 All political parties and associations were outlawed in Bangladesh, and only 4 state-owned newspapers were allowed to continue publication. 40 4 Sep 1975 The Sinai Interim Agreement was signed by Egypt and Israel. It called for a diplomatic rather than military resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. 40 5 Sep 1975 Attempted assassination of U.S. President Gerald Ford in Sacramento, California by Lynette (‘Squeaky’) Fromme, a follower of cult leader Charles Manson. The attack was thwarted by a Secret Service agent. Fromme was later sentenced to life imprisonment. (Released 2009.) (There was a second attempt on the president’s life on 22nd Sept – see below.) 40 5 Sep 1975 Hilton Hotel bombing, Park Lane, London. An IRA bomb exploded in the hotel’s lobby, killing 2 people and injuring 63. 40 6 Sep 1975 Lice earthquake, Turkey. 2,311 people were killed and there was extensive damage in the towns of Hani, Lice and Kulp and the surrounding villages. 40 6 Sep 1975 Czechoslovakian tennis player Martina Navratilova defected to the USA. 40 9 Sep 1975 NASA launched its Viking 2 Mars probe. It reached Mars successfully in August 1976. Its orbiter operated until July 1978 and returned almost 16,000 images, while its lander remained in operation until April 1980. 40 10 Sep 1975 Death of Sir George Paget Thomson, British physicist. Joint winner of the 1937 Nobel Prize for Physics for demonstrating the wave properties of the electron. 40 12 Sep 1975 The city of Boston, Massachusetts, USA began a programme to integrate black and white students in previously segregated public schools. There were massive protests and violence, which continued for months, and many parents kept their children at home. 40 13 Sep 1975 Hurricane Eloise hit the Caribbean, Florida and eastern USA, killing 80 (to 24th) people and causing extensive damage and flooding. 40 14 Sep 1975 The first U.S.-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, was canonised by Pope Paul VI. 40 16 Sep 1975 Papua New Guinea gained its independence from Australia. 40 16 Sep 1975 The Mikoyan MiG-31 multi-role interceptor fighter aircraft made its first flight, near Moscow, Russia. (It entered service in May 1981.) 40 18 Sep 1975 American newspaper heiress Patty Hearst was arrested by the FBI in San Francisco. She had been kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army in Feb 1974, and joined them in April 1974. (In Mar 1976 she was sentenced to 35 years in prison – reduced to 2 years by U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Released Feb 1979. Pardoned by Bill Clinton in 2001.) 40 19 Sep 1975 José Pinheiro de Azevedo became Prime Minister of Portugal following Vasco Gonçalves’ resignation. 40 20 Sep 1975 Death of Saint-John Perse, French poet and diplomat. Known for his evocative imagery. Winner of the 1960 Nobel Prize for Literature. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 166 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 22 Sep 1975 Attempted assassination of U.S. President Gerald Ford in San Francisco, California by Sara Jane Moore. She shot at the president, missing by a few inches, before being pulled to the ground by a former FBI agent. She was later sentenced to life imprisonment. (Released 2007. See also 5th Sept.) 40 22 Sep 1975 The IRA detonated 17 bombs across Northern Ireland, injuring 12 people. 40 24 Sep 1975 Dougal Haston and Doug Scott became the first Britons to reach the summit of Mount Everest. They were also the first climbers from any nation to conquer the south-west face. 40 27 Sep 1975 Death of Jack Lang, Premier of New South Wales, Australia (1925–27, 1930–32 – dismissed in a financial dispute with the federal government). 40 28 Sep 1975 Spaghetti House siege, Knightsbridge, London. An attempted armed robbery at the restaurant went wrong, leading to a 6-day siege with 9 Italian staff members held hostage in the basement. The hostages were eventually released unharmed and the robbers gave themselves up after becoming demoralised. They all received long prison sentences. 40 29 Sep 1975 American R&B/soul singer Jackie Wilson suffered a heart attack and collapsed while performing. He lapsed into a 9-year coma which persisted until his death in 1984 (except for a short spell of consciousness in 1976). 40 29 Sep 1975 The first wholly African American-owned TV station in the USA, WGPR, began broadcasting in Detroit, Michigan. It featured Sharon Dahlonega Raiford Bush as the first African American weather presenter in the USA. (WGPR is now owned by CBS and is known as WWJ-TV.) 40 29 Sep 1975 Death of Casey Stengel, American baseball player and manager. 40 30 Sep 1975 The Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter made its first flight. 30 1 Sep 1985 The wreck of the RMS Titanic was found in the Atlantic, 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, 73 years after it sank. 30 1 Sep 1985 Cambodian dictator Pol Pot officially retired as leader of the Khmer (or 2nd) Rouge and was succeeded by Son Sen – though he continued as the de facto leader of the party until 1997. 30 3 Sep 1985 Death of (Papa) Jo Jones, American jazz drummer. One of the most influential and admired jazz drummers of all time. Noted for his work with Count Basie and other artists of the swing era. 30 3 Sep 1985 Death of Johnny Marks, American songwriter. Best known for his Christmas songs, including Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, A Holly Jolly Christmas and more. 30 4 Sep 1985 Buckminsterfullerene C60 (commonly known as the buckyball) was discovered by scientists at Sussex University in England and Rice University in Texas, USA. It was the first fullerene molecule of carbon to be discovered and resembles a panelled soccer ball in shape. The scientists were awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their discovery. 30 6 Sep 1985 Death of Rodney Robert Porter, British biochemist. Joint winner of the 1972 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for determining the chemical structure of an antibody. 30 8 Sep 1985 Death of Paul Flory, American chemist. Winner of the 1974 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his contributions to the physical chemistry of polymers or macromolecules. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 167 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 30 8 Sep 1985 Death of John Franklin Enders, (‘the father of modern vaccines’), American microbiologist. Joint winner of the 1954 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his role in cultivating the polio virus in tissue cultures. He also helped develop a vaccine against measles. 30 9 Sep 1985 Handsworth riots, Birmingham, England. Unemployment and racial (to 11th) tensions fuelled a mass riot following the arrest of a man in a café and a police raid on a public house. 45 shops were looted and burnt, at least 2 people were killed. (Several riots occurred across England that autumn.) 30 9 Sep 1985 U.S. President Ronald Reagan ordered limited sanctions against South Africa in a (failed) attempt to placate the anti-apartheid movement. (In Oct 1986 the Senate overrode his veto and passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act.) 30 10 Sep 1985 Death of Jock Stein, Scottish football player and manager. Best known for his highly successful managerial career with Celtic and the Scottish national team. 30 12 Sep 1985 Britain expelled 25 Soviet spies following the defection of KGB chief Oleg Gordievsky to the West. (Two days later the USSR expelled 25 British nationals in a tit-for-tat row.) 30 13 Sep 1985 Nintendo released the popular video game Super Mario Bros. in Japan. (USA: 18th October 1985, Europe: 15th May 1987.) 30 15 Sep 1985 Death of Cootie Williams, American jazz/rhythm and blues trumpeter. Known for his distinctive sound. Noted for his work with Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, as well as leading his own band. 30 16 Sep 1985 Apple Computer co-founder and chairman Steve Jobs resigned from the company over a power-struggle with the board of directors. He went on to found NeXT computers and co-founded Pixar Animation Studios before returning to rescue a near-bankrupt Apple in 1996. 30 17 Sep 1985 Death of Laura Ashley, Welsh designer and businesswoman. Known for her traditional-style printed fabrics which she used to create soft furnishings and women’s clothing. Co-founder (with her husband Bernard) of the Laura Ashley textile company and chain of shops. 30 19 Sep 1985 Mexico City earthquake. More than 10,000 people were killed, 30,000 injured, and large parts of the city destroyed. 30 19 Sep 1985 American musicians Frank Zappa, John Denver and Dee Snider testified at U.S. Congressional hearings on obscenity in rock music. The RIAA agreed to put ‘Parental Advisory’ labels on selected releases. 30 19 Sep 1985 Death of Italo Calvino, award-winning Italian journalist, short story writer, novelist and essayist. One of the most important Italian fiction writers of the 20th century. 30 22 Sep 1985 The Plaza Accord was signed in New York City, USA, by France, West Germany, Japan, the USA and the UK. Each country agreed to intervene in currency markets, leading to a depreciated U.S. dollar to improve international trade. 30 22 Sep 1985 The French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius admitted that French secret service agents were responsible for sinking the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand in July. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 168 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 30 22 Sep 1985 The first Farm Aid benefit concert was held, in Champaign, Illinois, USA, organised by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. The concerts became an annual event, raising money to help family farmers in the USA. 30 22 Sep 1985 Death of Axel Springer, German publisher. Founder of Axel Springer Verlag AG, one of the largest publishing companies in Europe. 30 26 Sep 1985 Hurricane Gloria caused extensive damage along the east coast of the (to 28th) USA. 30 28 Sep 1985 Brixton riots, UK. Riots broke out on the streets of south London after a woman was shot and seriously injured during a house search by police. 30 29 Sep 1985 The action-adventure series MacGyver was first broadcast on ABC TV in the USA. (It ran for 7 seasons until 1992.) 30 30 Sep 1985 Death of Charles F. Richter, American physicist and seismologist. Best known for developing the Richter scale for measuring the magnitude of earthquakes. 30 30 Sep 1985 Death of Simone Signoret, French film actress. One of France’s greatest film stars. The first French actor to win an Academy Award. Best known for Room at the Top. Controversially supported several left-wing causes. 25 1 Sep 1990 The Communist Labour Party of Turkey/Leninist (TKEP/L) was founded following a split from the Communist Labour Party of Turkey (TKEP). (TKEP/L is an illegal organisation which continues the armed struggle that TKEP gave up in order to enter legal politics.) 25 4 Sep 1990 Death of Irene Dunne, American stage and film actress and singer (Cimarron, Theodora Goes Wild, The Awful Truth, Love Affair, I Remember Mama, and many more). Named ‘the best actress never to win an Academy Award’ (nominated 5 times). 25 5 Sep 1990 Eastern University massacre, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. 158 Tamil refugees were arrested and massacred by the Sri Lankan Army after taking refuge at the university. (There were 55,000 refugees in the university campus.) 25 6 Sep 1990 Death of Tom Fogerty, American rock guitarist and singer (Creedence Clearwater Revival). 25 6 Sep 1990 Death of Len Hutton, British cricketer (Yorkshire and England). 25 7 Sep 1990 Kimberly Bergalis from Fort Pierce, Florida, USA identified herself as the woman who had been infected with AIDS by her dentist – the first case of its type. (She died in Dec 1991.) 25 7 Sep 1990 Death of A. J. P. Taylor, British historian, journalist, writer and broadcaster. Known for his TV lectures on history. 25 9 Sep 1990 Death of Samuel Doe, Head of State/President of Liberia (1980–90). (or 10th?) (Executed and eaten by his captors after being ousted in the civil war.) 25 10 Sep 1990 The Main Building on Ellis Island in Upper New York Bay, USA reopened as an Immigration Museum after an extensive fundraising campaign and $150 million restoration. 25 10 Sep 1990 The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) was consecrated by Pope John Paul II. It is the largest church in Africa and is considered by some to be the largest in the world (disputed). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 169 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 12 Sep 1990 The Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany was signed in Moscow, Russia by representatives from East and West Germany, the USA, the Soviet Union, Britain and France. The treaty allowed the two Germanys to reunify – which they did on 3rd Oct. 25 13 Sep 1990 The first episode of the police/legal drama series Law & Order was broadcast on NBC TV in the USA. (It ran for 20 seasons until 2010.) 25 16 Sep 1990 A section of the Northern Xinjiang Railway (part of the Eurasian Land Bridge) was completed, linking the railway networks of China and Kazakhstan at the border town of Dostyk. 25 17 Sep 1990 The Soviet Union and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations after a break of more than 50 years. 25 19 Sep 1990 Death of Hermes Pan, American dancer and choreographer. Noted for his work with Fred Astaire in choreographing movie dance sequences. 25 23 Sep 1990 Iraq threatened to destroy Kuwait’s oil fields if any attempt was made to force it to withdraw. (Iraqi forces were driven out of Kuwait in the 1990 Gulf War, and they set light to about 700 oil wells as they left during Jan and Feb 1991. The last fire was extinguished in Nov 1991.) 25 24 Sep 1990 East Germany withdrew from the Warsaw Pact ahead of its reunification with West Germany (3rd Oct). 25 26 Sep 1990 The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) introduced the

the stigma attached to the X rating. 25 26 Sep 1990 Death of Alberto Moravia, Italian novelist, short story writer and journalist. One of the major Italian writers of the 20th century. His work explores social alienation, existentialism and loveless sexuality. 25 29 Sep 1990 Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C., USA was finally completed after 83 years when the final finial was set in place in a ceremony attended by President George H. W. Bush. (Construction began in 1907 and the unfinished cathedral opened for daily services in 1912.) 25 30 Sep 1990 The Canadian Tribute to Human Rights (also known as the Human Rights Monument) was unveiled by the Dalai Lama in Ottawa. 25 30 Sep 1990 Death of Patrick White, British-born Australian novelist, short story writer and playwright. One of the most important English-language novelists of the 20th century. Winner of the 1973 Nobel Prize for Literature (the only Australian to win). 20 1 Sep 1995 The Governor of New York, George Pataki, reinstated the death penalty, fulfilling an electoral campaign promise. (In 2004 the New York Court of Appeals ruled that this violated the state’s constitution. New York's death row was abolished in 2008.) 20 2 Sep 1995 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum opened in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. 20 2 Sep 1995 Death of Václav Neumann, Czech conductor, violinist and teacher. A champion of Czech music. 20 3 Sep 1995 Death of Earle Birney, award-winning Canadian poet, novelist and teacher. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 170 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 4 Sep 1995 Death of Edmond Jouhaud, Algerian-born French Air Force general. Best known for his role in organising an abortive coup in Algers (1961–62) for which he was sentenced to death (but served only 5 years in prison). 20 4 Sep 1995 Death of William Kunstler, American lawyer and civil rights activist. A flamboyant radical who defended a number of controversial clients, including activists, terrorists and the alleged Mafia boss John Gotti. 20 5 Sep 1995 Death of Jean-Luc Pépin, Canadian statesman. (or 6th?) 20 8 Sep 1995 Death of Eileen Zhang (also known as Ailing Chang), influential Chinese novelist, screenwriter and essayist. Known for her bitter love stories. Best known for Lust, Caution and Love in a Fallen City. 20 9 Sep 1995 Sony’s PlayStation game console was released in the USA. (Europe: 29th September.) 20 10 Sep 1995 Death of Charles Denner, Polish-born French stage and film actor. Best known for his roles as Fergus in The Bride Wore Black and Bertrand Morane in The Man Who Loved Women. 20 10 Sep 1995 Death of Derek Meddings, British film and TV special effects designer. Noted for his work on Gerry Anderson’s Supermarionation puppet television series and the James Bond and Superman film series. 20 12 Sep 1995 Death of Jeremy Brett, British actor. Best known for playing Sherlock Holmes in the television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. 20 13 Sep 1995 Death of Walter Goetz, German-born British illustrator and cartoonist. Best known for his comic strips Colonel Up and Mr. Down and Dab and Flounder in the Daily Express newspaper. 20 13 Sep 1995 Death of Francesco Messina, Italian sculptor. One of the most important sculptors of the Novecento Italiano movement. 20 14 Sep 1995 Death of Eiji Okada, Japanese film actor. Best known for his roles in Hiroshima mon amour and The Ugly American. 20 15 Sep 1995 Death of Sam McCluskie, British Labour Party politician and trade union leader. General secretary of the National Union of Seamen (1986–90). 20 15 Sep 1995 Death of Michio Watanabe, Japanese politician whose many accomplishments were often overshadowed by thoughtless comments. 20 18 Sep 1995 Death of Doreen Cannon, American/British actress and teacher of method acting. Best known as the Head of Acting at Drama Centre London, where her students included Pierce Brosnan, Simon Callow, Colin Firth, Geraldine James, Frances de la Tour and Penelope Wilton, and later at RADA and other leading drama schools, where her students included Michael Sheen, Matthew Macfadyen, Ioan Gruffudd and Rachel Weisz. 20 18 Sep 1995 Death of Donald Davie, influential British poet, literary critic and teacher. A leading member of The Movement, whose work was essentially English in character. 20 19 Sep 1995 The New York Times and The Washington Post published the Unabomber’s Manifesto in which the terrorist listed everything he thought was wrong with American society.

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Ann. Date Event 20 19 Sep 1995 Death of Sir Rudolf Peierls, German-born British physicist and teacher. Made many contributions to science. Best known for his role in Britain’s nuclear programme. Laid the theoretical groundwork for the development of the atomic bomb. An opponent of nuclear weapons. 20 19 Sep 1995 Death of Orville Redenbacher, American agricultural scientist and businessman. Developed a lighter, fluffier type of popcorn and founded a company to market it (Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn). 20 21 Sep 1995 The Hindu milk miracle, India. Statues of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh began drinking milk when spoonfuls were placed near their mouths. The phenomenon ended after 24 hours. 20 21 Sep 1995 Death of Irven Spence, American animator. Best known for his work on MGM’s Tom and Jerry cartoons, though he also worked with several other major animation studios. 20 22 Sep 1995 Nager Kovil school bombing, Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Air Force bombed the primary school, immediately killing 39 Tamil children and injuring many more, several of whom later died. 20 25 Sep 1995 Mount Ruapehu volcano in New Zealand erupted. No casualties were reported. It erupted again in 2006 and 2007 (when 1 person was injured), and there have been several warnings since then. 20 25 Sep 1995 Death of Annie Elizabeth (‘Bessie’) Delany, American dentist and civil rights pioneer whose best-selling oral history Having Our Say, told with her sister Sadie, chronicled their lives (aged 101 and 103) and became the basis for a Broadway play. 20 25 Sep 1995 Death of Dorothy Dickson, American-born British stage actress and dancer. A huge success in a series of long-running musical comedies in the 1920s and 30s. 20 27 Sep 1995 Attempted coup in the Comoro Islands, off south-east Africa. French mercenary Bob Denard and 30 men attempted to oust President Said Mohamed Djohar but were thwarted and arrested by the French Army. 20 28 Sep 1995 The Israeli Government agreed to give Palestinians control of much of the West Bank, which Israel had occupied for 28 years. 20 29 Sep 1995 Death of Susan Fleetwood, British stage, film and television actress. Best known for her classical stage work. She also played acclaimed roles in the TV series Chandler & Co and The Buddha of Suburbia. 15 8 Sep 2000 UK fuel protests. Road hauliers blockaded oil refineries across the country in protest against the rising cost of fuel for vehicles. Within days, disruption was widespread and petrol stations ran out of fuel. (The protest ended on 14th and fuel supplies began to be restored on 16th.) 15 10 Sep 2000 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats closed on Broadway after more than 7,400 performances. It was Broadway’s longest-running production. 15 14 Sep 2000 Microsoft launched Windows ME (aimed at home users). 15 15 Sep 2000 The XXVII Summer Olympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia. (to 1 Oct) 15 20 Sep 2000 Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) Building in London was attacked by dissident Irish Republicans who fired a Russian anti-tank missile at it, causing superficial damage. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 172 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 15 20 Sep 2000 The Whitewater investigation ended after 7 years. Independent Counsel Robert Ray said there was insufficient evidence to determine whether U.S. President Bill Clinton or his wife Hillary had knowingly participated in any criminal conduct. 15 other people were convicted of more than 40 crimes, including several Clinton aides and supporters, and the Governor of Arkansas, Jim Guy Tucker, who was convicted of 3 counts of fraud and removed from office. 15 23 Sep 2000 British rower Steve Redgrave won a gold medal at his fifth consecutive Olympic Games, in Sydney, Australia. 15 29 Sep 2000 Maze Prison in Northern Ireland closed. The high security prison was used to house paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles. 10 1 Sep 2005 Death of R. L. Burnside, American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. Known for his raw Mississippi Delta blues style. 10 2 Sep 2005 Death of Bob Denver, American television actor (Gilligan’s Island and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis). 10 3 Sep 2005 The U.S. Government and local/state officials along the Gulf Coast were criticised for their slow response to Hurricane Katrina. Although federal funds were quickly released, many people in New Orleans were left without food or water for up to 5 days. Mike Brown, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), resigned on 12th after being removed from his post as coordinator of the federal relief efforts. 10 3 Sep 2005 Death of William Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the United States (1986–2005). 10 7 Sep 2005 Egypt held its first-ever multi-candidate presidential election. Incumbent Hosni Mubarak was re-elected amid widespread reports of vote-rigging and corruption. In December, runner-up Dr. Ayman Nour was convicted of forgery and sentenced to five years’ hard labour after contesting the results and calling for the election to be re-run. 10 7 Sep 2005 Apple introduced the iPod Nano portable music player. 10 10 Sep 2005 Death of Clarence (‘Gatemouth’) Brown, Grammy Award-winning American musician who combined blues with a variety of other styles to create a unique and influential sound. 10 11 Sep 2005 Death of Chris Schenkel, American sportscaster who provided play-by- play radio and TV commentary for many memorable sporting events. 10 12 Sep 2005 The last Israeli troops left the Gaza Strip after 38 years of military rule. 10 12 Sep 2005 Hong Kong Disneyland opened. 10 13 Sep 2005 Death of Julio César Turbay Ayala, President of Colombia (1978–82). 10 14 Sep 2005 Two of the largest U.S. airlines, Delta and Northwest, filed for bankruptcy protection due to the high cost of jet fuel. (Both companies subsequently emerged from bankruptcy protection, and they merged in Jan 2010.) 10 14 Sep 2005 A U.S. District Judge in Sacramento, California ruled that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools was unconstitutional as the phrase ‘under God’ violated children’s rights. 10 14 Sep 2005 Death of William Berenberg, American physician, paediatrician and educator. A pioneer in the treatment and rehabilitation of cerebral palsy. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 173 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 14 Sep 2005 Death of Robert Wise, Academy Award-winning American film director, producer and editor (West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Citizen Kane, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Andromeda Strain, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and more). 10 15 Sep 2005 Death of Sidney Luft, American film producer. Husband of the actress Judy Garland. 10 16 Sep 2005 Death of Gordon Gould, American physicist. Credited (though not by everyone) with the invention of the laser. At the very least he played a key role in its early development and coined the term ‘laser’. 10 19 Sep 2005 The deputy leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, claimed responsibility for the 7th July London bombings in which 52 people (plus 4 suicide bombers) were killed. (A number of organisations with links to al-Qaeda have claimed responsibility.) 10 19 Sep 2005 The former CEO of Tyco International, Dennis Kozlowski, and the former Chief Financial Officer, Mark Swartz, were sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for looting hundreds of millions of dollars from the company. (They were released on parole in Jan 2014.) 10 20 Sep 2005 Hurricane Rita caused devastation and flooding across the southern U.S. (to 26th) states. 120 people were killed. 10 20 Sep 2005 Death of Simon Wiesenthal, Austrian Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter. Founder of the Jewish Documentation Centre in Vienna. 10 24 Sep 2005 The IRA decommissioned its last remaining weapons in front of independent inspectors. 10 25 Sep 2005 Death of Don Adams, Emmy Award-winning American television actor, comedian and director. Best known for the series Get Smart, Inspector Gadget and Spike & Mike. 10 25 Sep 2005 Death of Urie Bronfenbrenner, Russian-born American developmental psychologist. Co-founder of the Head Start programme. 10 25 Sep 2005 Death of M. Scott Peck, American psychiatrist and writer. Best known for his book The Road Less Traveled, which revolutionised the self-help genre. 10 26 Sep 2005 Death of Helen Cresswell, award-winning British children’s author and television scriptwriter. Best known for the Lizzie Dripping series and The Bagthorpe Saga. 10 27 Sep 2005 Michaëlle Jean became the first black Governor General of Canada. 10 28 Sep 2005 Death of Constance Baker Motley, American lawyer, judge and civil rights activist. The first African American woman to become a federal judge. 10 29 Sep 2005 John Roberts became Chief Justice of the United States. 10 29 Sep 2005 Death of Austin Leslie, American chef. Internationally renowned for his ‘Creole Soul’ food. Known as ‘the Godfather of Fried Chicken’. 10 30 Sep 2005 The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 editorial cartoons featuring the Islamic prophet Muhammad, sparking international protests and violent demonstrations and riots in some Muslim countries. At least 140 people were reported killed as a direct result.

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Ann. Date Event 600 13 Oct 1415 Death of Thomas FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey, English nobleman and military officer. A major figure during the reign of King Henry IV and a champion of Henry IV and Henry V. 600 17 Oct 1415 Gamliel VI, the last nasi (prince/president) of the ancient Jewish Sanhedrin, was deposed. 600 25 Oct 1415 Hundred Years’ War – the Battle of Agincourt (France). English victory. 500 4 Oct 1515 Birth of Lucas Cranach the Younger, German Renaissance artist. 500 8 Oct 1515 Birth of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox. Close associate of Queen Mary I of England. Grandmother of King James I of England. Twice sent to the Tower of London. 300 5 Oct 1715 Birth of Victor Riqueti, Marquis de Mirabeau, French economist. Father of the French revolutionary Honoré Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau. 300 13 Oct 1715 Death of Nicolas Malebranche, French theologian and philosopher. Sought to synthesize the thoughts of St. Augustine with those of René Descartes. 300 23 Oct 1715 Birth of Peter II, Emperor of Russia (1727–30 – died of smallpox aged 14). 250 7 Oct 1765 The Stamp Act Congress convened in New York City. Representatives (to 25th) from the British colonies in North America met to devise a unified protest against the Stamp Act – the first direct tax on Americans. 250 21 Oct 1765 Death of Giovanni Paolo Pannini (also spelled Panini), Italian artist and architect. Best known for his vistas of Rome. 250 31 Oct 1765 Death of Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, British military leader, younger son of King George II. Best known for his harsh suppression of the Jacobite rebellion at the Battle of Culloden, which earned him the nickname ‘Butcher Cumberland’. A string of military failures followed, which led to his estrangement from the King. 200 11 Oct 1815 Birth of Pierre Napoléon Bonaparte, Italian-born French prince and adventurer. Noted for his debauched lifestyle. Charged with murder but acquitted. 200 12 Oct 1815 Birth of William J. Hardee, U.S. Army general. Served in the Second Seminole War and Mexican-American War, and as a Confederate general during the U.S. Civil War. 200 13 Oct 1815 Death of Joachim Murat, Marshal of France, King of Naples (1808–15). (Executed.) 200 15 Oct 1815 Former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte arrived on the island of St. Helena to begin his British-imposed exile. He remained there until his death 6 years later. 200 16 Oct 1815 Birth of Francis Lubbock, U.S. politician. Governor of Texas (1861–63). 200 17 Oct 1815 Birth of Emanuel Geibel, German poet, teacher and translator. 200 28 Oct 1815 Birth of Ludovít Štúr, Slovak politician, writer, poet and linguist. Leader of the Slovak national revival in the 19th century. Author of the Slovak language standard. 200 29 Oct 1815 Birth of Daniel Emmett, American songwriter and entertainer. Known for the song Dixie. Founder of one of the first minstrel troupes (possibly 1st). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 175 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 200 31 Oct 1815 Birth of Karl Weierstrass, German mathematician. Known as the ‘father of modern analysis’. 175 7 Oct 1840 William I, the first King of the Netherlands, abdicated and was succeeded by his son, William II. 175 8 Oct 1840 The Kingdom of Hawaii’s first constitution came into effect. 175 14 Oct 1840 The Emir of Lebanon, Bashir Shihab II (also spelled Chehab) surrendered to British forces, was banished from Lebanon, and went into exile. 175 15 Oct 1840 The Hawaii Board of Education was founded. 150 1 Oct 1865 Birth of Paul Dukas, French composer. Best known for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. 150 8 Oct 1865 Santa Cruz Mountains earthquake, San Francisco, California, USA. Some buildings were damaged or destroyed but there were no fatalities. 150 10 Oct 1865 The first successful oil pipeline in the USA began operating, in Pennsylvania. The Van Syckel pipeline was 5 miles long and could deliver almost 2,000 barrels per day to the Miller Farm terminal. 150 10 Oct 1865 American inventor John Wesley Hyatt was granted a patent for the celluloid billiard ball. (Their tendency to explode during billiard games is probably a myth, but they did sometimes explode during manufacturing.) 150 11 Oct 1865 Morant Bay rebellion, Jamaica. Paul Bogle led 200–300 black people into the town, marking a major turning point in Jamaica’s history. 150 11 Oct 1865 Birth of Hans E. Kinck, prolific Norwegian novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist and philologist 150 12 Oct 1865 Birth of Sir Arthur Harden, British biochemist and educator. Joint winner of the 1929 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his study of the fermentation of sugar and the enzyme action involved. 150 14 Oct 1865 The Little Arkansas Treaty was signed by the USA and all the major Plains Indians tribes. (The treaty specified the creation of reservations for the tribes, but these were never actually created. It was superseded 2 years later by a treaty which reduced the size of reservations by 90%.) 150 16 Oct 1865 Death of Andrés Bello, Venezuelan-born Chilean poet, philosopher, sociologist and scholar. Regarded as the intellectual father of South America. Founder of the University of Chile.

150 18 Oct 1865 Death of Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (Lord Palmerston). British Prime Minister (1855–58, 1859–65). 150 26 Oct 1865 Birth of Benjamin Guggenheim, American businessman. A member of the hugely wealthy Guggenheim family. (Died on the Titanic in 1912.) 150 27 Oct 1865 Birth of Charles Spencelayh, award-winning British artist. A favourite of Queen Mary. 125 1 Oct 1890 Yosemite National Park was established in California, USA. 125 1 Oct 1890 General Grant National Park was established in California, USA. (Now General Grant Grove, part of Kings Canyon National Park.) 125 1 Oct 1890 Birth of Stanley Holloway, British stage and film actor and comedian. Best known for his role as Alfred P. Doolittle in the film My Fair Lady and for his comic monologues and songs. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 176 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 125 2 Oct 1890 Birth of Groucho Marx, American actor and comedian (the Marx Brothers) and radio/TV quiz show host (You Bet Your Life). Noted for his distinctive appearance. 125 4 Oct 1890 Death of Catherine Booth, (the ‘Mother of The Salvation Army’), British preacher and social worker. Wife of William Booth (founder of The Salvation Army). 125 6 Oct 1890 Mormons outlaw polygamy. The President of The Church of Jesus Christ (or 24 Sep?) of Latter-day Saints, Wilford Woodruff, published the Anti-polygamy Manifesto (also called the Woodruff Manifesto or the 1890 Manifesto) which officially advised against any future plural marriage. 125 8 Oct 1890 Birth of Eddie Rickenbacker, American pilot and industrialist. The most successful U.S. fighter ace of WWI. Medal of Honor recipient. He later became president of Eastern Air Lines. 125 11 Oct 1890 The National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in the USA. 125 13 Oct 1890 Delta Chi fraternity was founded at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.

125 14 Oct 1890 Birth of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States. 125 16 Oct 1890 Birth of Michael Collins, Irish revolutionary leader and statesman. Regarded as a hero of the Irish struggle for independence. 125 20 Oct 1890 Birth of Jelly Roll Morton, American ragtime/jazz pianist, bandleader and composer. 125 20 Oct 1890 Death of Sir Richard Burton, British explorer, scholar, translator, writer and Orientalist. The first European to discover Lake Tanganyika. Noted for his translations of The Arabian Nights and the Kama Sutra. 100 3 Oct 1915 Pleasant Valley earthquake, Nevada, USA. The strongest earthquake ever recorded in the state. No casualties were reported. 100 3 Oct 1915 Birth of Ray Stark, American film producer. Best known for his work with Barbra Streisand and Neil Simon (Funny Girl, The Sunshine Boys, The Goodbye Girl, Steel Magnolias, and more). 100 4 Oct 1915 Dinosaur National Monument was established on the border between Colorado and Utah, USA. 100 5 Oct 1915 Death of Otto Malling, Danish composer, organist and educator. Director of the Royal Danish Academy of Music. 100 7 Oct 1915 Birth of Margarita Aliger, prize-winning Russian poet, journalist, translator and Soviet propagandist. 100 9 Oct 1915 World War I: the Central Powers captured the Serbian capital, Belgrade. 100 10 Oct 1915 Birth of Harry (‘Sweets’) Edison, American jazz trumpeter. Known for his work with the Count Basie Orchestra (and other artists). 100 12 Oct 1915 Death of Edith Cavell, British nurse and WWI heroine who saved the lives of injured soldiers regardless of which side they were on. (Executed for helping Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium.) 100 13 Oct 1915 Birth of Sir Terry Frost, British abstract artist and teacher.

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Ann. Date Event 100 13 Oct 1915 Claimed date of birth of Cornel Wilde, Hungarian-born American film ? actor and producer (A Song to Remember, The Greatest Show on Earth, The Fifth Musketeer, The Naked Prey, and more). (Census and immigration records show his real year of birth was 1912.) 100 14 Oct 1915 World War I: Bulgaria joined the Central Powers and declared war on Serbia. 100 14 Oct 1915 World War I – the Battle of Loos (France) ended. Result: stalemate. This battle marked the first British use of poison gas (chlorine), though it was ineffective and actually gassed more British troops than Germans. 100 15 Oct 1915 World War I: Britain declared war on Bulgaria. 100 15 Oct 1915 Birth of Yitzhak Shamir, Prime Minister of Israel (1983–84, 1986–92). (or 22nd?) 100 17 Oct 1915 Birth of Arthur Miller, prize-winning American playwright (Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, The Misfits). Husband of Marilyn Monroe. 100 18 Oct 1915 World War I – the Third Battle of the Isonzo, Slovenia. Austria-Hungary (to 3 Nov) repulsed an Italian offensive, but both sides suffered heavy casualties. 100 19 Oct 1915 World War I: Russia and Italy declared war on Bulgaria. 100 21 Oct 1915 The first transatlantic radio-telephone call was made by AT&T from Virginia, USA to Paris, France. (This was the first time speech had been transmitted across the Atlantic.) 100 23 Oct 1915 Women’s suffrage parade, New York City, USA. About 40,000 women marched along Fifth Avenue to demand the right to vote. It was the largest parade ever held in the city at that time. (The number of women taking part ranges from 25,000 to 50,000, depending on the source.) 100 23 Oct 1915 Death of W. G. Grace, British cricketer. Considered the greatest cricketer of all time. 100 23 Oct 1915 The first officially organised World Horseshoe Pitching Tournament was held, in Kansas, Missouri, USA. 100 24 Oct 1915 Birth of Tito Gobbi, Italian operatic baritone. 100 24 Oct 1915 Birth of Bob Kane, American cartoonist. Co-creator (with Bill Finger) of Batman. 100 24 Oct 1915 Death of Désiré Charnay, French archaeologist. Best known for his investigations of prehistoric Mexico and Central America, and for his pioneering use of photography to record his discoveries. 100 27 Oct 1915 Birth of Harry Saltzman, Canadian film producer. Best known for co- producing the James Bond series of films with Albert R. Broccoli. 100 28 Oct 1915 Richard Strauss’s symphonic/tone poem An Alpine Symphony was first performed, in Berlin, Germany.

100 29 Oct 1915 Aristide Briand became Prime Minister of France (for the 3rd time). He was Prime Minister 6 times and served a total of 11 terms. 100 30 Oct 1915 Birth of Fred W. Friendly, American radio/TV producer and executive. President of CBS News. Helped establish the PBS network. 100 30 Oct 1915 Death of Sir Charles Tupper, Prime Minister of Canada (1896 – for 2 months). Premier of Nova Scotia (1864–67). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 178 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 90 2 Oct 1925 Scottish engineer John Logie Baird performed the first successful test of a working television system. (His system used a mechanical spinning disc. He gave the first public demonstration in January 1926.) 90 13 Oct 1925 Birth of Lenny Bruce, American stand-up comedian, satirist and free speech activist. Noted for his black humour and controversial routines punctuated by obscenity. (Died 1966.) 90 16 Oct 1925 The Texas State Textbook Commission ordered that all mention of evolution should be deleted from school textbooks. 90 17 Oct 1925 Birth of Harry Carpenter, British radio/television sports broadcaster. Best known for his boxing commentaries. (Died 2010.) 90 23 Oct 1925 Birth of Johnny Carson, American television host and comedian. Best known for The Tonight Show (1962–92). (Died 2005.) 90 25 Oct 1925 The American Negro Labor Congress was founded. (In 1930 it was renamed the League of Struggle for Negro Rights. It was dissolved in 1935 when the National Negro Congress was founded.) 90 27 Oct 1925 The first patent for water skis was granted to Fred Waller of New York, USA. (Water skiing was invented by Ralph Samuelson in Minnesota in 1922.) 90 27 Oct 1925 Birth of Warren Christopher, U.S. Secretary of State (1993–97). (Died 2011.) 80 2 Oct 1935 Birth of Omar Sivori, Argentine/Italian football player and manager. (Died 2005.) 80 3 Oct 1935 Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Italian victory. (– May 1936) 80 6 Oct 1935 Death of Sir Frederic Hymen Cowen, versatile British pianist, conductor and composer. 80 10 Oct 1935 Birth of Khalil al-Wazir (also known as Abu Jihad), Palestinian leader and military strategist of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Co-founder of the secular nationalist party Fatah. (Died 1988.) 80 10 Oct 1935 Georgios Kondylis became Prime Minister of Greece after ousting Panagis Tsaldaris in a royalist coup. He ended the Second Hellenic Republic, and the Greek monarchy was restored in November. 80 10 Oct 1935 George Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway. 80 11 Oct 1935 Death of Steele Rudd, Australian novelist, short story writer, playwright and magazine publisher. Known for his comic characters. Best known for his book On Our Selection (also a successful stage play). 80 12 Oct 1935 Birth of Luciano Pavarotti, Italian operatic tenor. Considered one of the finest tenors of the 20th century, and one of the most commercially successful of all time. (Died 2007.) 80 18 Oct 1935 Birth of Peter Boyle, Emmy Award-winning American film and television actor who played both comic and serious roles. Best known for his role as Frank Barone in the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, and as the monster in the horror spoof Young Frankenstein. (Died 2006.) 80 20 Oct 1935 The Long March ended. Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong and 8,000 followers arrived in Yan’an after a year-long 6,000-mile march. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 179 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 20 Oct 1935 Birth of Jerry Orbach, American stage, film and television actor and singer (Dirty Dancing [film], Law & Order [tv], Murder, She Wrote [tv], Beauty and the Beast [Disney film: voice of Lumière], The Fantasticks [stage], Promises, Promises [stage], 42nd Street [stage], Chicago [stage]). (Died 2004.) 80 20 Oct 1935 Death of Arthur Henderson, British politician, leader of the Labour Party. The first Labour cabinet minister. Winner of the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize. 80 22 Oct 1935 Death of Komitas, Turkish-born Armenian composer, musicologist and priest. Regarded as the founder of modern Armenian classical music. 80 22 Oct 1935 Death of Edward Carson, Baron Carson (Lord Carson), Irish politician, lawyer and judge. Leader of the Irish Unionist Alliance and the Ulster Unionist Party. Successfully led the resistance against Britain’s attempt to introduce Home Rule for the whole of Ireland. 80 23 Oct 1935 The Chophouse Massacre, Newark, New Jersey, USA. 3 New York mobsters were shot dead by 2 hitmen at the Palace Chophouse saloon. 80 25 Oct 1935 A hurricane struck Haiti, killing over 2,000 people. 80 28 Oct 1935 Birth of Alan Clarke, British stage, television and film director. Noted for his stark and often controversial plays and films including Scum, Made in Britain, The Firm, and Rita, Sue and Bob Too. 75 1 Oct 1940 The USA’s first superhighway, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, was opened.

75 3 Oct 1940 The U.S. Army set up its first parachute unit – the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion (PIB). 75 4 Oct 1940 World War II: Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini held a war conference at Brenner Pass in the Alps. 75 5 Oct 1940 Death of Ballington Booth, British-born American Salvation Army officer. Co-founder (with his wife Maud) of Volunteers of America. Son of Salvation Army founders William and Catherine Booth. 75 5 Oct 1940 Death of Silvestre Revueltas, Mexican classical composer, violinist, conductor and teacher. Noted for the distinctive rhythms and vitality of his work. 75 7 Oct 1940 World War II: Germany invaded Romania. 75 7 Oct 1940 World War II: U.S. naval officer Arthur H. McCollom issued the McCollum memo, which recommended that the USA should provoke Japan into committing an overt act of war so the USA had a legitimate reason to declare war against it and enter WWII. (The USA entered WWII following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in Dec 1941.) 75 8 Oct 1940 Death of Robert Emden, Swiss astrophysicist, meteorologist and educator. Known for his important early work on the theory of stellar structure. 75 9 Oct 1940 World War II: the Blitz – a German bomb destroyed the high altar of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. 75 9 Oct 1940 Birth of John Lennon, British rock singer, songwriter and musician (The Beatles). (Died 1980.) 75 9 Oct 1940 Death of Sir Wilfred Grenfell, British medical missionary and benefactor to Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Ann. Date Event 75 10 Oct 1940 Birth of Winston Churchill, British politician. Member of Parliament for Stretford (1970–83) and Davyhulme (1983–97). Grandson of the former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. (Died 2010.) 75 11 Oct 1940 Death of Vito Volterra, Italian mathematician and physicist. Best known for his contributions to calculus and mathematical biology. 75 12 Oct 1940 Death of Tom Mix, American film actor. Known for his many Westerns during the silent era. 75 14 Oct 1940 Balham underground station disaster, London, UK. A German bomb caused tunnels to collapse while people were sheltering in the station during an air raid. 68 people were killed and more than 70 injured. 75 15 Oct 1940 Death of Lluís Companys, President of Catalonia (1932–33, 1933–40). The only democratically elected president in European history to be executed. 75 15 Oct 1940 The U.S. première of the Charlie Chaplin film The Great Dictator. (UK première: 16th Dec. Released: 7th Mar 1941.) 75 16 Oct 1940 Holocaust: the Warsaw Ghetto was established in Poland. 75 16 Oct 1940 Birth of Dave DeBusschere, American basketball player, coach and executive. (Died 2003.) 75 19 Oct 1940 Death of Suze Groeneweg, Dutch politician. The first women to be elected to the Dutch Parliament. 75 20 Oct 1940 Death of Gunnar Asplund, Swedish architect and educator. A key member of the Nordic Classicism movement. 75 23 Oct 1940 Birth of Ellie Greenwich, American songwriter, singer and record producer. Wrote or co-wrote many hit songs including River Deep – Mountain High, Baby I Love You, Be My Baby, Da Doo Ron Ron, Do Wah Diddy Diddy, and Leader of the Pack. (Died 2009.) 75 24 Oct 1940 The Fair Labor Standards Act went into effect in the USA, limiting working hours, establishing a national minimum wage, and prohibiting oppressive child labour. 75 25 Oct 1940 Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. became the first African American general in the U.S. armed forces. 75 26 Oct 1940 The North American P-51 Mustang fighter-bomber made its first flight. It was used during WWII and the Korean War as well as other conflicts. 75 27 Oct 1940 Birth of John Gotti, American organised crime boss. Head of the Gambino crime family in New York City. (Died 2002.) 75 28 Oct 1940 World War II – the Balkans Campaign – the Greco-Italian War. – 23 Apr 1941 Greek tactical victory/German intervention. 75 28 Oct 1940 The British ocean liner RMS Empress of Britain was sunk by a German U-boat off the west coast of Ireland. There were few casualties, and most of the passengers and crew were rescued. It was the largest liner lost during WWII, and the largest ship sunk by a U-boat. 75 29 Oct 1940 The USA held its first-ever peacetime military draft lottery. 75 29 Oct 1940 Birth of Frida Boccara, French singer. Joint winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969. (Died 1996.)

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Ann. Date Event 75 30 Oct 1940 The musical Panama Hattie by Cole Porter premièred on Broadway. 75 31 Oct 1940 World War II: the Battle of Britain ended. 70 3 Oct 1945 The World Federation of Trade Unions was founded. 70 5 Oct 1945 Hollywood Black Friday: a 6-month strike by set decorators developed into a riot at the gates of Warner Brothers’ studios. More than 40 people were injured. The strike ended a month later, but the Conference of Studio Unions was soon broken up. 70 5 Oct 1945 The Indonesian Army was founded (as the People’s Security Army). 70 13 Oct 1945 Death of Milton S. Hershey, American confectioner and philanthropist. Founder of the Hershey chocolate company and the company town of Hershey, Pennsylvania. 70 15 Oct 1945 Death of Pierre Laval, Prime Minister of Vichy France during WWII. (Executed for treason.) 70 16 Oct 1945 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was founded. 70 17 Oct 1945 Loyalty Day (Argentina). A mass demonstration demanded the release of Juan Perón, who had been forced to resign as Vice President (on 8th Oct) by opponents in the military, and was then imprisoned. He was released later that day. (He became President of Argentina in June 1946.) See 21st. 70 18 Oct 1945 Venezuelan President Isaías Medina Angarita was overthrown in a military coup. Succeeded by Rómulo Betancourt. 70 21 Oct 1945 French women were allowed to vote in a national election for the first time (the French legislative election). 70 21 Oct 1945 Argentine military officer and politician Juan Perón married actress Eva (or 22nd) Duarte (‘Evita’). 70 24 Oct 1945 The United Nations was formally established, replacing the League of Nations. 70 24 Oct 1945 Death of Vidkun Quisling, Norwegian politician and Nazi collaborator who seized power of German-occupied Norway in a Nazi-backed coup. Minister President of Norway (1942–45). His name became a synonym for ‘traitor’. (Executed for treason and other crimes.) 70 25 Oct 1945 Taiwan Retrocession Day. The Republic of China took over the administration of Taiwan following Japan’s surrender. 70 27 Oct 1945 World War II – the Battle of Surabaya (Indonesia). British victory. (to 20 Nov) The heaviest fighting occurred on 10th November – now celebrated as Heroes Day in Indonesia. 70 29 Oct 1945 Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas resigned. Succeeded by José Linhares. He became President again in Jan 1951. 70 29 Oct 1945 The first commercially successful ballpoint pen went on sale at Gimbels department store in New York City, USA. (Ballpoint pens were launched in the UK in Dec 1945.) 70 30 Oct 1945 World War II: shoe rationing ended in the USA. 65 2 Oct 1950 The Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz was first published. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 182 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 65 3 Oct 1950 Indonesia invaded the self-proclaimed Republic of South Maluku following its declaration of independence in April. (Fighting continued until 1963 when the republic was disestablished.) 65 5 Oct 1950 The TV version of the quiz show You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Marx, was first broadcast on NBC in the USA. (It ran until 1961. The radio version began in 1947 and ran until 1960.)

65 7 Oct 1950 China invaded Tibet. Tibetan forces were swiftly overcome (by 19th Oct), and Tibet despatched a delegation to China to agree terms for China’s annexation of Tibet. 65 7 Oct 1950 Mother Teresa founded what would become the Missionaries of Charity, in Calcutta, India.

65 9 Oct 1950 Korean War: United Nations (mainly U.S.) troops crossed the 38th parallel into North Korea. (On 19th – 20th they captured and occupied the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.) 65 23 Oct 1950 Death of Al Jolson, influential Russian-born American singer, stage and film actor and comedian. The most famous American entertainer of the 1930s. Best known for the film The Jazz Singer. 65 25 Oct 1950 Korean War – the Battle of Unsan (North Korea). Chinese victory. (to 4 Nov) China’s first battle of the war, which they joined as allies of North Korea. 65 28 Oct 1950 The first televised episode of The Jack Benny Program was broadcast on CBS in the USA. (It was a seamless continuation of the radio series and ran until 1965.) 65 29 Oct 1950 Death of Gustaf V, King of Sweden (1907–50). Succeeded by his son Gustaf VI Adolf. 65 30 Oct 1950 Pope Pius XII witnessed the Miracle of the Sun from the Vatican gardens. (Also on 31st October, 1st November and 8th November.) 65 31 Oct 1950 Earl Lloyd became the first African American to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). 60 1 Oct 1955 The anti-proton was discovered at the University of California, Berkeley by a team led by Emilio Segrè and Owen Chamberlain. 60 1 Oct 1955 The first episode of the sitcom The Honeymooners was broadcast on CBS TV in the USA. It only ran for one series, then continued as one-off specials and as a series of sketches on The Jackie Gleason Show. 60 2 Oct 1955 The first episode of the literary anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents was broadcast on CBS TV in the USA. It ran until 1965. (Revived in 1985.) 60 3 Oct 1955 The first episode of the children’s TV show The Mickey Mouse Club was broadcast on ABC in the USA. It ran (intermittently) until 1996, moving to The Disney Channel from 1989. 60 3 Oct 1955 The first episode of the long-running children’s TV show Captain Kangaroo was broadcast on CBS in the USA. (It ran for 38 seasons until 1984.) 60 4 Oct 1955 Death of Alexander (also spelled Alexandros) Papagos, Prime Minister of Greece (1952–55). 60 7 Oct 1955 Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl was performed for the first time, in San Francisco, California, USA. It is considered one of the great works of American literature and helped establish the Beat Generation. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 183 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 8 Oct 1955 The U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Saratoga was launched. 60 9 Oct 1955 Death of Theodor Innitzer, Austrian cardinal, Archbishop of Vienna (1932–55). He initially supported the Nazi regime, but quickly withdrew his support and made his home a refuge for Jews. 60 13 Oct 1955 Death of Manuel Ávila Camacho, President of Mexico (1940–46). 60 18 Oct 1955 Death of José Ortega y Gasset, Spanish philosopher. Founder of the Institute of Humanities in Madrid. 60 20 Oct 1955 Egypt and Syria signed a mutual defence treaty, pledging to support each other in any conflict against Israel. 60 20 Oct 1955 The Return of the King, the third and final part of J. R. R. Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings, was published. 60 25 Oct 1955 The first microwave oven for domestic use went on sale in the USA. Manufactured by Tappan. It was very expensive and did not sell well. 60 25 Oct 1955 Death of Sadako Sasaki, 12-year-old Japanese victim of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki. She famously tried to make 1,000 origami cranes before she died of leukaemia. 60 26 Oct 1955 Austria declared its permanent neutrality. 60 26 Oct 1955 Ngo Dinh Diem became the first President of South Vietnam. 60 26 Oct 1955 The first edition of the weekly newspaper The Village Voice was published in New York City, USA. 60 27 Oct 1955 Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed a joint defence agreement in Cairo. 60 31 Oct 1955 Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom announced that she had called off her plans to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend. Their relationship was controversial because he was divorced. She would have had to have renounced her royal status to marry him. (She married Antony Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon, in 1960. In 1978 she became the first member of the royal family to divorce since Henry VIII in 1540.)

50 1 Oct 1965 The 30th September Movement staged an attempted coup in Indonesia. 6 Indonesian Army generals were assassinated. This led to an anti- communist purge in which more than 500,000 people were killed. 50 4 Oct 1965 Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit the USA. 50 4 Oct 1965 The Soviet Union launched its Luna 7 spacecraft on a mission to soft land on the Moon. The landing systems failed and it crashed there on 7th Oct. 50 6 Oct 1965 Patricia Roberts Harris became the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg – the first African American U.S. ambassador. 50 8 Oct 1965 The Post Office Tower (now the BT Tower) in London was officially opened. It was the tallest building in the UK until 1980. 50 11 Oct 1965 The Vinland Map was first displayed to the public at Yale University, Connecticut, USA. It is claimed to be a 15th century map of the world which shows that America was visited by Norse explorers in the 11th century. Its authenticity is disputed. 50 11 Oct 1965 Death of Dorothea Lange, American documentary photographer and photojournalist. Best known for her images of the Great Depression. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 184 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 12 Oct 1965 Death of Paul Hermann Müller, Swiss chemist. Winner of the 1948 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovering the insecticidal properties of DDT. This led to significant increases in world food production and the reduction of insect-borne diseases. (DDT was banned in many countries by 1970 and replaced by less toxic substances.) 50 14 Oct 1965 Death of Randall Jarrell, American poet and literary critic. Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (1956–58). 50 15 Oct 1965 Vietnam War: the first public burning of a draft card in the USA took place at a student-led anti-war demonstration in New York City. Destruction or mutilation of draft cards had been made illegal in August. The protester, David Miller, was jailed for 2 years. 50 18 Oct 1965 Death of Henry Travers, British stage and film actor. Best known for his role as the angel Clarence Odbody in the film It’s a Wonderful Life. 50 21 Oct 1965 The Vivian Beaumont Theater opened in New York City, USA. It is the only Broadway theatre located outside of New York’s theatre district. 50 22 Oct 1965 The song Get Off of My Cloud by the Rolling Stones was released in the UK. (USA: 25th Sept.) 50 22 Oct 1965 Death of Paul Tillich, German-born American existentialist philosopher and theologian. One of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. Best known for his works The Courage to Be and Dynamics of Faith.

50 23 Oct 1965 Vietnam War – Operation Silver Bayonet. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division (to 20 Nov) joined forces with the South Vietnamese to seek and destroy North Vietnamese regiments in western Pleiku Province. (The operation included the Battle of Ia Drang Valley – see 14th Nov 1965.) 50 26 Oct 1965 British rock band The Beatles were presented with their MBEs by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. (John Lennon returned his in 1969.) 50 28 Oct 1965 Pope Paul VI absolved the Jews of their collective guilt for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as part of his decree Nostra Aetate (meaning: In Our Time). 50 28 Oct 1965 The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, USA was completed. (It was dedicated in March 1968.) 50 28 Oct 1965 Death of Earl Bostic, influential American jazz/rhythm and blues saxophonist. 50 29 Oct 1965 Death of Mehdi Ben Barka, Moroccan revolutionary politician. Leader of ? the National Union of Popular Forces (UNPF). Abducted and presumed murdered in Paris, France on this date. The incident damaged relations between Morocco and France for 4 years. 40 1 Oct 1975 The Thrilla in Manila. Muhammad Ali knocked out Joe Frazier to win the World Heavyweight Championship (boxing). 40 1 Oct 1975 Death of Al Jackson, Jr., American R&B/soul/funk drummer (Booker T. & The MG’s). (Shot dead.) 40 2 Oct 1975 Japanese Emperor Hirohito made his first visit to the USA, meeting President Gerald Ford at the White House. 40 2 Oct 1975 Death of Kumaraswami Kamaraj, Indian political leader. Chief Minister of the Madras State (Tamil Nadu). President of the Indian National Congress (1967–71). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 185 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 3 Oct 1975 Death of Guy Mollet, Prime Minister of France (1956–57). 40 7 Oct 1975 The U.S. Congress lifted restrictions on women joining military academies. (Effective from 1976.) 40 9 Oct 1975 The IRA detonated a bomb near the Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly, London. 1 person was killed and at least 20 injured. 40 10 Oct 1975 British-American film actress Elizabeth Taylor remarried Welsh actor Richard Burton, 16 months after they divorced. 40 11 Oct 1975 The first episode of the sketch/comedy/variety show Saturday Night Live was broadcast on NBC TV in the USA (as NBC’s Saturday Night).

40 12 Oct 1975 The 17th century archbishop Oliver Plunkett was canonised, becoming the first new Irish saint for 700 years. 40 14 Oct 1975 Operation Savannah (Angola) – a covert South African intervention in the (to 1976) Angolan Civil War. Part of the South African Border War. 40 15 Oct 1975 Iceland extended its international boundary from 50 miles from its coastline to 200 miles. This led to the Third Cod War with Britain (Nov 1975 – June 1976). 40 16 Oct 1975 Rahima Banu, a 2-year old Pakistani girl, became the last known person to contract naturally occurring smallpox. She made a full recovery after being treated by a team from the World Health Organisation. (The last person to die from smallpox was British medical photographer Janet Parker, who was exposed to it in a laboratory accident in 1978.) 40 16 Oct 1975 The Balibo Five, a group of Australian television journalists, were killed during an Indonesian incursion into East Timor. 40 17 Oct 1975 The United Nations passed a resolution which equated Zionism with racism and racial discrimination. (Repealed 1991.) 40 21 Oct 1975 Mexico City subway crash. 20 people were killed when a stationary train was hit by another train which failed to stop in time. (Automatic traffic lights were installed following this incident.) 40 21 Oct 1975 Death of Charles Reidpath, American athlete. Double gold medallist at the 1912 Olympics (400m and 4 x 400m relay). He also had successful careers in the military and in construction/public works. 40 22 Oct 1975 The ‘Guildford Four’ were convicted of planting IRA bombs in two pubs in Guildford, Surrey, UK, which killed 5 people. They were sentenced to life imprisonment. (Convictions reversed in 1989 and they were released.) 40 22 Oct 1975 The Soviet Union’s Venera 9 landed on Venus and became the first spacecraft to send back images from the surface of another planet. Its orbiter began surveying Venus on 26th Oct. (Venera 10 also reached Venus on 23rd Oct, landing on 25th.) 40 22 Oct 1975 The World Football League went out of business midway through its second season. (In 2008 a minor American football league acquired the rights and began playing under the same name.) 40 22 Oct 1975 Death of Arnold Toynbee, British historian, philosopher of history and writer. Best known for his 12-volume work A Study of History. 40 26 Oct 1975 Anwar Sadat became the first Egyptian president to make an official visit to the USA. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 186 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 27 Oct 1975 Death of Rex Stout, American writer of detective fiction. Best known for his series of novels featuring the detective Nero Wolfe. 40 27 Oct 1975 Death of Georges Carpentier, French world light-heavyweight boxing (or 28th?) champion (1920–22). 40 30 Oct 1975 British serial killer Peter Sutcliffe (the Yorkshire Ripper) killed his first victim in Leeds. (He had attacked, but not killed, at least 4 women prior to this. In 1981 he was convicted of murdering 13 women.) 40 30 Oct 1975 Death of Gustav Hertz, German physicist. Joint winner of the 1925 Nobel Prize for Physics for discovering the laws governing the impact of an electron upon an atom. (Nephew of the physicist Heinrich Hertz.) 40 31 Oct 1975 Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats played their first concert (as the Nightlife Thugs, though they apparently changed their name to the Boomtown Rats during the interval). 40 31 Oct 1975 Death of S. D. Burman, Indian composer, musician and singer. Noted for his Bollywood film scores. 30 1 Oct 1985 Israeli-Palestinian conflict – Operation Wooden Leg. The Israeli Air Force bombed the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s headquarters near Tunis, Tunisia. 30 1 Oct 1985 Riots broke out in Toxteth in Liverpool and Peckham in London. 30 1 Oct 1985 Death of E. B. White, American writer and children’s author. Best known for The Elements of Style (Strunk & White), and the children’s stories Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little. 30 2 Oct 1985 Death of Rock Hudson, American film and TV actor. One of the most popular movie stars of his era. The first major celebrity to die from AIDS. 30 3 Oct 1985 The U.S. Space Shuttle Atlantis was launched on its maiden flight. 30 3 Oct 1985 The USA renamed the position of ‘Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress’ to ‘Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress’ (more commonly known as the United States Poet Laureate). Robert Penn Warren was named as the first U.S. Poet Laureate in February 1986. 30 3 Oct 1985 Death of Charles Collingwood, American television journalist and news anchor (CBS). 30 4 Oct 1985 The Free Software Foundation was formed. 30 5 Oct 1985 Puerto Rico floods and Mameyes landslide. At least 180 people were (to 7th) killed. The Mameyes landslide was the worst in North American history. 30 6 Oct 1985 Broadwater Farm housing estate riot, Tottenham, London. Metropolitan Police constable Keith Blakelock was killed – the first British constable to be killed in a riot since 1833. 30 6 Oct 1985 Death of Nelson Riddle, American popular music composer and arranger. He worked with many top artists including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee, Johnny Mathis and Ella Fitzgerald. 30 7 Oct 1985 Palestinian terrorists seized the Italian ship MS Achille Lauro in the Mediterranean with about 440 passengers on board, threatening to blow it up unless Israel freed 50 Palestinian prisoners. A disabled American passenger was killed and his body thrown overboard. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 187 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 30 7 Oct 1985 American basketball player Lynette Woodard became the first woman to join the Harlem Globetrotters. 30 8 Oct 1985 The musical Les Misérables opened at the Barbican Theatre in London for its first English-language production and its first West End production. 30 8 Oct 1985 Death of Riccardo Bacchelli, Italian poet, playwright, novelist, essayist and literary critic. Co-founder of the Bagutta Prize for literature. 30 8 Oct 1985 Death of Malcolm Ross, record-setting American balloonist and atmospheric physicist. 30 9 Oct 1985 Strawberry Fields, a memorial to The Beatles’ musician John Lennon, was dedicated in Central Park, New York City, USA. 30 9 Oct 1985 Death of Emílio Garrastazú Médici, President of Brazil (1969–74). 30 10 Oct 1985 Death of Yul Brynner, award-winning Russian-born American stage and film actor (The King and I, The Ten Commandments, The Magnificent Seven, Westworld, and many more). 30 10 Oct 1985 Death of Orson Welles, American stage, film and radio actor, director, writer and producer (The War of the Worlds, Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons, Touch of Evil, and more). 30 12 Oct 1985 Death of Ricky Wilson, American rock/new wave musician and song- writer (The B-52’s). 30 14 Oct 1985 Death of Emil Gilels, Soviet pianist. Considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. 30 17 Oct 1985 Intel launched the 80386 32-bit microprocessor. 30 17 Oct 1985 Britain’s House of Lords ruled that doctors could prescribe contraceptives to girls under 16 without parental consent. (Gillick case.) 30 18 Oct 1985 Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the USA. (Europe: 1st September 1986.) 30 19 Oct 1985 The first Blockbuster Video store opened, in Dallas, Texas, USA. 30 25 Oct 1985 Death of Gary Holton, British actor and singer. Best known for his role as Wayne in the TV comedy drama series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. 30 27 Oct 1985 Hurricane Juan hit Louisiana, Florida and the Mid-Atlantic states, causing (to 1 Nov) devastating floods. At least 12 people were killed. 25 1 Oct 1990 Rwandan Civil War. (– Aug 1993) 25 1 Oct 1990 Death of Curtis LeMay, U.S. Air Force general who planned important but controversial strategic bombing campaigns in the Pacific during WWII. Running-mate of U.S. presidential candidate George Wallace in 1968. 25 2 Oct 1990 Xiamen Airlines Flight 8301 was hijacked and made an out-of-control landing at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China where it crashed into two other airliners. 128 people were killed. 25 3 Oct 1990 East and West Germany were officially reunified as the Federal Republic of Germany. This day is now celebrated annually as German Unity Day. Germany’s reunified parliament held its first meeting at the Reichstag in Berlin the following day. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 188 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 3 Oct 1990 Death of Stefano Casiraghi, Italian socialite, businessman and world off- shore speedboat racing champion. Husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco. (Killed in a powerboat accident.) 25 4 Oct 1990 Death of Alyn Ainsworth, British bandleader and musical director. Provided music and arrangements for several popular television shows. 25 4 Oct 1990 Death of Jill Bennett, Malaysian-born British stage, film and television actress (The Nanny, Inadmissible Evidence, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Julius Caesar, I Want What I Want). Fourth wife of the playwright John Osborne (divorced acrimoniously). 25 6 Oct 1990 NASA and the European Space Agency launched the Ulysses space probe on a joint mission to study the sun and several comets. 25 8 Oct 1990 Temple Mount riots, Jerusalem. About 20 Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli border police when they began throwing stones at Jewish worshippers. 25 8 Oct 1990 Britain joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). 25 8 Oct 1990 Death of Juan José Arévalo, President of Guatemala (1945–51). ? (Some sources give his date of death as 6th or 7th.) 25 9 Oct 1990 Death of Richard Murdoch, British actor. Known for his comic roles in the radio series Much Binding in the Marsh and The Men from the Ministry, for narrating the English language version of the animated TV show The Moomins, and for his role as the barrister Uncle Tom in the TV drama series Rumpole of the Bailey. 25 11 Oct 1990 Mexican poet and writer Octavio Paz won the Nobel Prize for Literature. 25 12 Oct 1990 Death of Rifaat el-Mahgoub, Egyptian politician, speaker of the Egyptian Parliament. (Assassinated.) 25 13 Oct 1990 The Lebanese Civil War ended. 25 13 Oct 1990 Russian Orthodox services were held at St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square, Moscow for the first time since the Russian Revolution in 1917. 25 13 Oct 1990 Death of Douglas Edwards, America’s first network news anchor (CBS 1948–62). 25 13 Oct 1990 Death of Le Duc Tho, Vietnamese communist politician and diplomat. Joint winner of the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize (declined). 25 14 Oct 1990 Death of Leonard Bernstein, American conductor, composer and pianist. Noted for his flamboyant conducting style and prodigious talent. One of the first U.S. conductors to receive worldwide acclaim. Composed the music for the stage and film musical West Side Story. 25 15 Oct 1990 Apartheid: South Africa’s Separate Amenities Act was repealed. 25 15 Oct 1990 Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev won the Nobel Peace Prize for reducing Cold War tensions and increasing openness in the Soviet Union. 25 15 Oct 1990 Death of Delphine Seyrig, award-winning Lebanese-born French stage and film actress. Noted for her distinctive characterisations. 25 16 Oct 1990 Death of Art Blakey, Grammy Award-winning American jazz/bebop/hard bop drummer and bandleader. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 189 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 20 Oct 1990 Death of Joel McCrea, American film actor. Appeared in a wide variety of films of the 1930s and 40s before turning mostly to Westerns, such as The Virginian and Ride the High Country. 25 22 Oct 1990 Death of Louis Althusser, Algerian-born French Marxist philosopher. 25 23 Oct 1990 The Prime Minister of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Vitaliy Masol, was forced to resign after mass protests by students. (He became Prime Minister of Ukraine in 1994.) 25 26 Oct 1990 Death of William S. Paley, American broadcasting executive. President and Chairman of CBS who built the company from a small radio network in the 1920s into one of the world’s leading radio and TV networks. 25 27 Oct 1990 Askar Akayev became the first President of Kyrgyzstan. 25 27 Oct 1990 Death of Xavier Cugat, Spanish-born American bandleader and violinist who helped popularise Latin dance music in the USA. 25 27 Oct 1990 Death of Jacques Demy, French film director. Known for his romantic musical comedies. 25 28 Oct 1990 Non-Communist parties triumphed in the first multi-party, democratic parliamentary elections in Soviet Georgia. This led to calls for independence from the Soviet Union and a market economy. 25 29 Oct 1990 Death of William French Smith, U.S. Attorney General (1981–85). 20 1 Oct 1995 Death of Aditya Vikram Birla, Indian industrialist. Chairman of the Birla Group (now the Aditya Birla Group), a multinational conglomerate with interests in textiles, metals, cement, chemicals, financial services, communications and more. 20 1 Oct 1995 Death of Margaret Gorman, American beauty queen. The first Miss America (1921). 20 3 Oct 1995 The O. J. Simpson murder trial ended. The American football star and actor was found not guilty of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. 20 7 Oct 1995 Death of Louis Meyer, American racing driver. 3 times winner of the Indianapolis 500. 20 8 Oct 1995 Death of John Cairncross, British civil servant and Soviet spy. The ‘fifth man’ in the Cambridge spy ring. During WWII he passed the Soviet Union information it used to win the Battle of Kursk against Germany. 20 8 Oct 1995 Death of Christopher Keene, influential American conductor, musician and arts administrator. Head of the New York City Opera. 20 9 Oct 1995 Death of Alec Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel of Coldstream, British Prime Minister (1963–64). 20 9 Oct 1995 Death of John A. Scali, American television news reporter (ABC) and diplomat. Acted as an intermediary in the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1973–75). 20 9 Oct 1995 Death of Kukrit Pramoj, Prime Minister of Thailand (1975–76). He was also a writer and actor and played a prime minister in The Ugly American. 20 13 Oct 1995 Death of Henry Roth, Austro-Hungarian/Ukrainian-born American novelist, short story writer and teacher. Known for his novel Call it Sleep. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 190 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 14 Oct 1995 Death of Ellis Peters (pen name of Edith Pargeter), British historical / mystery novelist. Best known for the Brother Cadfael series. 20 14 Oct 1995 Death of Helen Vlachos, Greek journalist and newspaper publisher who famously closed down her newspapers after the 1967 military coup rather than censor them as the ruling junta demanded. 20 16 Oct 1995 The Million Man March took place in Washington, D.C., USA. 20 16 Oct 1995 Death of Linda Goodman, American astrologer and writer. Best known for her 1968 book Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs, which achieved unprecedented success and is considered to have accelerated the growth of the New Age movement. 20 19 Oct 1995 Death of Don Cherry, innovative American jazz trumpeter. A pioneer of free jazz and world music. 20 20 Oct 1995 The Secretary General of NATO, Willy Claes, resigned after the Belgian Parliament decided he should stand trial for his role in a bribery scandal. 20 21 Oct 1995 Death of Maxene Andrews, American singer (The Andrews Sisters). 20 21 Oct 1995 Death of Jack Rose, American screenwriter and producer. Best known for the film Road to Rio. 20 22 Oct 1995 Death of Sir Kingsley Amis, British novelist, poet, scriptwriter, critic and teacher. Best known for his novel Lucky Jim. Father of Martin Amis. 20 24 Oct 1995 Death of Émile Jonassaint, President of Haiti (1994 for 5 months). 20 25 Oct 1995 Death of Viveca Lindfors, Swedish stage, film and television actress who starred in dozens of movies and plays including Stargate and Last Summer in the Hamptons. 20 25 Oct 1995 Death of Bobby Riggs, American tennis player. World number 1 in 1939 and 1946–47. 20 26 Oct 1995 Death of Georgia Neese Clark (also known as Georgia Neese Clark Gray), Treasurer of the United States (1949–53). The first (and only) woman to hold this position. 20 26 Oct 1995 Death of Fathi Shikaki, founder and leader of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine. (Assassinated by Mossad agents in Malta.) 20 27 Oct 1995 Former Italian Prime Minister Bettino Craxi was convicted (in his absence) of corruption. (He was in Tunisia where he had fled to avoid a prison sentence. He remained there for the rest of his life. Died January 2000.) 20 28 Oct 1995 Baku Metro fire, Azerbaijan. About 300 people were killed and 265 injured in the world’s deadliest subway fire. It was blamed on an electrical fault caused by outdated equipment, but some commentators say it was sabotage. 20 29 Oct 1995 Death of Terry Southern, American satirical novelist, screenwriter and educator. Noted for his work on films including Dr. Strangelove, The Cincinnati Kid, Barbarella and Easy Rider. 20 30 Oct 1995 Quebec independence referendum: the citizens of Quebec narrowly voted in favour of remaining part of Canada. 20 31 Oct 1995 Death of Sir Wallace Edward (Bill) Rowling, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1974–75). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 191 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 31 Oct 1995 Death of Rosalind Cash, American singer and stage, film and television actress. Best known for her roles as Lisa in the science fiction film The Omega Man and Mary Mae Ward in the soap opera General Hospital. 15 1 Oct 2000 Death of Reginald (‘Reggie’) Kray, British gangster (the Kray twins). 15 7 Oct 2000 Vojislav Kostunica became the last President of Yugoslavia. 15 7 Oct 2000 The last football match was played at the old Wembley Stadium in London – a 2002 World Cup qualifying game between England and Germany. The stadium closed after the match and was demolished in 2003. The new Wembley Stadium opened on the same site in 2007. 15 11 Oct 2000 Death of Donald Dewar, Scottish politician. First Minister of Scotland (1999–2000). 15 15 Oct 2000 Death of Konrad Emil Bloch, German-born American biochemist. Joint winner of the 1964 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discoveries relating to the regulation and synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. 15 17 Oct 2000 Hatfield rail crash, Hertfordshire, UK. 4 people were killed when a high- speed passenger train derailed due to a cracked rail, (The spiralling cost of the subsequent national rail replacement programme forced Railtrack into administration.) 15 26 Oct 2000 Laurent Gbagbo became President of the Ivory Coast following a popular uprising against the military ruler Robert Guéï. 15 26 Oct 2000 The BSE Inquiry Report (also known as the Phillips Report) was published in Britain. It concluded that the BSE (mad cow disease) epidemic was caused by the use of infectious meat and bone meal in cattle feed. It criticised agriculture officials, scientists and government ministers, who it said had misled the public. 15 30 Oct 2000 Death of Steve Allen, American television entertainer, comedian, writer, composer and pianist. The host of several game shows and talk shows, and the first host of The Tonight Show. Composed more than 14,000 songs. 15 31 Oct 2000 Russia launched its Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft, carrying the first resident crew to the International Space Station. (Docked with ISS on 2nd Nov.) 10 2 Oct 2005 Ethan Allen boating accident, Lake George, New York, USA. 20 people were killed when the overloaded tour boat capsized. 10 2 Oct 2005 Death of Nipsey Russell, American comedian and actor. Best known for his many appearances as a panellist on television game shows. Noted for his humorous poems which he recited during each show. 10 2 Oct 2005 Death of August Wilson, Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright. Best known for The Pittsburgh Cycle, a series of 10 plays which depict African American life in each decade of the 20th century. 10 3 Oct 2005 Death of Ronnie Barker, British TV comedian, actor and writer (The Frost Report, The Two Ronnies, Porridge, Going Straight, Open All Hours). 10 7 Oct 2005 Death of Charles Rocket, American film and television actor. Best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his roles as Nicholas Andre in the film Dumb and Dumber and Dave Dennison in the Disney film Hocus Pocus.

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Ann. Date Event 10 8 Oct 2005 Kashmir earthquake. About 100,000 people were killed, 138,000 injured and 3.5 million made homeless in the earthquake which affected Kashmir, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, western China and Tajikistan. 10 9 Oct 2005 China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping completed its survey of Mount Everest and announced its official height as 8,844.43 metres (29,017.16 feet) at the highest rocky point. (The height, including snow and ice, is widely reported as being 8,848 metres or 29,029 feet.) 10 9 Oct 2005 Death of Louis Nye, American comedy actor. Made numerous appearances on TV comedy/sketch shows. Best known as Gordon Hathaway in the man-on-the-street interviews on The Steve Allen Show. 10 10 Oct 2005 Death of Wayne C. Booth, American literary critic and educator. 10 10 Oct 2005 Death of Milton Obote, President of Uganda (1966–71, 1980–85). 10 11 Oct 2005 Death of Edward Szczepanik, last Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile (1986–90). 10 12 Oct 2005 Death of C. Delores Tucker, American politician and civil rights activist. Co-founder of the National Political Congress of Black Women. Noted for her campaign against bad language and misogyny in gangsta-rap. 10 15 Oct 2005 The current constitution of Iraq was approved in a public referendum. (Final result announced on 25th Oct and the constitution was adopted.) 10 16 Oct 2005 Death of Elmer (‘Len’) Dresslar, Jr., American voice actor and singer. Noted for his deep bass voice. Best known as the voice of the Jolly Green Giant in television commercials. 10 17 Oct 2005 The first episode of the late night TV talk show The Colbert Report was broadcast on Comedy Central in the USA. 10 17 Oct 2005 Death of Ba Jin (pen name of Li Yaotang), Chinese anarchist novelist and short story writer. One of the most widely read Chinese writers of the 20th century. 10 18 Oct 2005 Hurricane Wilma, the most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, (to 26th) caused massive damage worth $29 billion (£18.1 billion) across the Caribbean, Central America and the eastern USA. 63 people were killed. 10 18 Oct 2005 Death of Johnny Haynes, British footballer (Fulham FC and England). The first player to earn £100 ($170) per week. 10 19 Oct 2005 The trial of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein began in Baghdad. He was charged with crimes against humanity. (He was convicted on 5th Nov 2006, sentenced to death, and hanged on 30th Dec 2006.) 10 20 Oct 2005 Death of Saadoun Sughaiyer al-Janabi, Iraqi lawyer. A defence attorney involved in the trial of Saddam Hussein and other defendants. (Abducted from his office and found shot dead later that day. See also 8th Nov 2005.) 10 20 Oct 2005 Death of Shirley Horn, acclaimed American jazz singer and pianist. Noted for her rich contralto voice. 10 22 Oct 2005 Tropical Storm Alpha formed in the Atlantic, becoming the first tropical (to 24th) storm to be given a letter from the Greek alphabet as all the designated names for the year had been used. 2005 was the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record. The storm hit the Dominican Republic and Haiti, killing 26 people. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 193 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 22 Oct 2005 Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, USA closed down. (It was demolished during Nov and Dec and the new Busch Stadium opened on part of the same site in April 2006.) 10 22 Oct 2005 Death of Tony Adams, Irish stage and film producer. Best known for producing 6 Pink Panther films, the film 10 and the film and Broadway musical Victor/Victoria. 10 22 Oct 2005 Death of Arman, French-born American artist. Known for his found- object sculptures. 10 24 Oct 2005 Death of José Azcona del Hoyo, President of Honduras (1986–90). 10 24 Oct 2005 Death of Rosa Parks, American civil rights activist who famously refused to give up her bus seat to a white man, which led to the Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama (1955–56) and marked the beginning of the U.S. civil rights movement. 10 25 Oct 2005 Death of Wellington Mara, iconic American football executive. Co-owner of the New York Giants. 10 26 Oct 2005 Death of Keith Parkinson, American fantasy artist and illustrator. Known for his book covers and game artwork (EverQuest, Guardians, Magic: The Gathering, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes). 10 26 Oct 2005 Death of George Swindin, British football player (goalkeeper) and manager. Best known for his career at Arsenal FC. 10 28 Oct 2005 Scooter Libby, chief of staff to U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney, was indicted for interfering with the criminal investigation of the Plame affair, and immediately resigned. (In March 2007 he was convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements, and sentenced to 30 months in prison (later commuted) and fined $250,000. 10 28 Oct 2005 Death of Eugene K. Bird, U.S. Army officer. Commandant of Spandau Allied Prison in Germany (1964–72) whose book on Rudolf Hess, The Loneliest Man in the World, (co-written with Hess who was a prisoner there) ended his career when his superiors got to hear about it. 10 28 Oct 2005 Death of Richard Smalley, American chemist, physicist and educator. Joint winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for co-discovering buckminsterfullerene (C60) – a new form of carbon. 10 29 Oct 2005 Delhi bombings, India. 62 people were killed and over 200 injured when Kashmir separatist/Islamist terrorists exploded bombs at 2 markets and on a bus. 10 29 Oct 2005 Ghana International Airlines began operating. (Ceased May 2010.) 10 30 Oct 2005 Death of Al Lopez, (‘El Señor’), American baseball player and manager. 10 31 Oct 2005 Death of Hal Anger, award-winning American biophysicist and electrical engineer. Known for several inventions in the field of nuclear medicine and nuclear imaging, most notably the Anger camera which images gamma radiation to create diagnostic images of the human body.

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Ann. Date Event 1400 13 Nov 615 Pope Adeodatus I took office. 1400 23 Nov 615 Death of Saint Columban (also known as Columbanus), Irish saint, poet ? and writer who founded a number of missionaries in Europe. (Some sources give his date of death as 21st. His feast day is 23rd.) 800 11 Nov 1215 The Fourth Council of the Lateran was held, at the Lateran Palace in (to 30th) Rome, Italy, presided over by Pope Innocent III. 700 15 Nov 1315 The Battle of Morgarten, Switzerland. Forces from the Swiss Confederacy ambushed Austrian forces from the Holy Roman Empire. Swiss victory which played an important role in the formation of modern Switzerland. 500 5 Nov 1515 Death of Mariotto Albertinelli, Italian High Renaissance artist. Noted for his association with Fra Bartolomeo with whom he painted many works. 500 22 Nov 1515 Birth of Mary of Guise (also known as Mary of Lorraine). Queen consort of James V of Scotland (1538–42). Regent of Scotland (1554–60). Mother of Mary, Queen of Scots. 400 5 Nov 1615 Birth of Ibrahim, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1640–48). Known as ’Ibrahim the Mad’ by modern historians due to his mental instability. (Executed 1648.) 400 12 Nov 1615 Birth of Richard Baxter, influential English Puritan minister and writer who sought to bring peace to clashing Protestant denominations. 300 8 Nov 1715 Birth of Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern. Queen consort of Prussia (1740–86). Wife of Frederick II (Frederick the Great) – who ignored her and only saw her at family reunions. 300 13 Nov 1715 Jacobite Rising – the Battle of Sheriffmuir, Scotland. Result: inconclusive – both sides claimed victory, but it was a strategic victory for the British Government’s forces, who halted the Jacobite army’s advance. 300 13 Nov 1715 Birth of Dorothea Erxleben, the first female medical doctor in Germany. 300 15 Nov 1715 The Third Barrier Treaty (also known as the Treaty of Antwerp) was signed. Frederick William I of Prussia ceded part of Upper Guelders to the Dutch Republic (now the Netherlands). 300 24 Nov 1715 The River Thames in London froze over and a frost fair was held. – 9 Feb 1716 300 25 Nov 1715 The first American woman to be granted a patent: Sybilla Masters of Philadelphia, for a device for processing maize. (The patent was issued in Britain in her husband’s name as women were not allowed to hold patents.) 250 1 Nov 1765 The Stamp Act (a British tax on the colonies of North America) went into effect. Its purpose was to help pay for troops stationed in North America following Britain’s victory in the Seven Years’ War. (The tax was hugely unpopular with colonists and the Act was repealed in March 1766. It was one of the key grievances that led to the American Revolution.) 250 14 Nov 1765 Birth of Robert Fulton, American engineer and inventor who developed the first commercially successful steamboat. 250 17 Nov 1765 Birth of Jacques MacDonald, French general, Marshal of France. A military leader during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 195 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 250 20 Nov 1765 Birth of Sir Thomas Fremantle, British Royal Navy officer (Vice-Admiral) and politician. Noted for his daring actions and success. Father of Charles Howe Fremantle, after whom the Australian city of Fremantle is named. 250 23 Nov 1765 Repudiation Day: Frederick County Court, Maryland repudiated Britain’s Stamp Act and carried out its business as if the Act had never been passed. This was the first known American rebellion against the British crown, and eventually led to the American Revolution and Independence. 250 30 Nov 1765 Death of George Glas, Scottish seaman, merchant and adventurer in West Africa. 200 1 Nov 1815 Birth of Crawford Long, pioneering American physician. The first to use ether as an anaesthetic during surgery. 200 2 Nov 1815 Birth of George Boole, British mathematician who invented Boolean algebra (also called Boolean logic), which forms the basis of modern computer circuits and programming. 200 9 Nov 1815 British chemist and inventor Sir Humphry Davy formally announced his invention of the miners’ safety lamp (also known as the Davy lamp). 200 12 Nov 1815 Birth of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, American social reformer who organised the first women’s rights and women’s suffrage movements in the USA. 200 20 Nov 1815 Napoleonic Wars: the Quadruple Alliance was signed by the UK, Austria, Prussia and Russia, reaffirming their alliance of 1813. 200 23 Nov 1815 Birth of William Dennison, Jr., American politician. U.S. Postmaster General (1864–66). Governor of Ohio (1860–62). 200 24 Nov 1815 Birth of Grace Darling, British heroine who famously rescued survivors of a shipwreck off Northumberland in 1838. She and her father used a rowing boat as the sea was too rough for the lifeboat. 200 27 Nov 1815 The Kingdom of Poland adopted its constitution. (At that time it was little more than a puppet state of Russia.) 175 12 Nov 1840 Birth of Auguste Rodin, French sculptor. Best known for The Thinker. 175 14 Nov 1840 Birth of Claude Monet, French impressionist artist. 175 21 Nov 1840 Birth of Princess Victoria, the Princess Royal, eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. (She later married the German Emperor Frederick III and became Empress of Germany and Queen of Prussia, and mother of the German Emperor William II.)

150 2 Nov 1865 Birth of Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States. 150 6 Nov 1865 American Civil War: the last Confederate ship surrendered (the CSS Shenandoah). 150 8 Nov 1865 Death of Tom Sayers, British bare-knuckle boxer. One of England’s best- known 19th century pugilists. Took part in the first international heavy- weight championship (declared a draw after the crowd invaded the ring). 150 10 Nov 1865 Death of Henry Wirz, Swiss-born American soldier. Confederate Army captain in the U.S. Civil War. Superintendent of a prison-of-war camp in Andersonville, Georgia – for which he was later convicted of excessive cruelty. The only person in the USA to have been executed for war crimes. (Hanged.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 196 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 150 11 Nov 1865 Following the end of the Bhutan War (British victory), the Treaty of Sinchula was signed, in which Bhutan ceded parts of Assam, Bengal and Dewangiri to the British East India Company. 150 11 Nov 1865 Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a surgeon in the U.S. Army, became the first (and only) woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor. (Her name was removed from the Medal of Honor Roll in 1917, but restored by U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 1977.) 150 12 Nov 1865 Death of Elizabeth Gaskell, (Mrs. Gaskell), British novelist and short story writer who also wrote the first first biography of Charlotte Brontë. 150 15 Nov 1865 The first gold certificates (a form of paper money) were issued in the USA. 150 17 Nov 1865 Birth of John Stanley Plaskett, award-winning Canadian astronomer. Known for designing high-quality instruments and making extensive spectroscopic observations. 150 17 Nov 1865 Death of James McCune Smith, American physician and abolitionist. The first African American to hold a medical degree. The first African American to run a pharmacy in the USA. A prominent campaigner against slavery. 150 25 Nov 1865 Death of Heinrich Barth, German explorer of Africa, and noted scholar. 150 26 Nov 1865 Chincha Islands War – the Battle of Papudo (Chile) – a naval battle between Spanish and Chilean forces. Chilean victory. 150 26 Nov 1865 Lewis Carroll’s novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was published. 150 27 Nov 1865 Birth of José Asunción Silva, Colombian poet. One of the founders of Spanish-American Modernism. 125 4 Nov 1890 The City and South London Railway was officially opened. It was the world’s first deep-level underground railway, and the first to be electrically powered. 125 4 Nov 1890 The world première of Alexander Borodin’s opera Prince Igor took place in St. Petersburg, Russia. 125 15 Nov 1890 Birth of Richmal Crompton, British children’s author and novelist. Best known for her Just William stories. 125 22 Nov 1890 Birth of Charles de Gaulle, President of France (1959–69). Founder of the French Fifth Republic. 125 23 Nov 1890 Death of William III, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1849–90). Succeeded by his daughter Princess Wilhelmina – her mother Queen Emma was Regent until 1898. 125 29 Nov 1890 The Meiji Constitution went into effect in Japan. 100 1 Nov 1915 Parris Island in South Carolina, USA was officially designated a Marine Corps Recruit Depot – a national training centre for U.S. Marines. 100 2 Nov 1915 Birth of Douglas Lilburn, New Zealand composer. 100 2 Nov 1915 Birth of Sidney Luft, American film producer. Husband of the actress Judy Garland. 100 7 Nov 1915 Stephanos Skouloudis became Prime Minister of Greece (until June 1916).

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Ann. Date Event 100 7 Nov 1915 Birth of Philip Morrison, American physicist and educator. Helped to build the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki in WWII (and subsequently became an advocate for arms control). Professor of Physics Emeritus at MIT. 100 8 Nov 1915 World War I: an Austro-Hungarian submarine sank the Italian passenger steamer SS Ancona, killing over 200 people, including 9 Americans. This sparked a diplomatic row between the USA and Austria. 100 9 Nov 1915 Birth of André François, Hungarian-born French cartoonist, graphic artist and illustrator. Best known for his satirical cartoons. 100 9 Nov 1915 Birth of Sargent Shriver, American politician and diplomat. First director of the U.S. Peace Corps (1961–66). Running-mate of George McGovern in the 1972 U.S. presidential election. 100 11 Nov 1915 Birth of William Proxmire, American politician, Senator from Wisconsin. Best known for his crusade against officials who waste public money, and his Golden Fleece Awards which were given to those whom he felt were the most guilty. Also noted for his personal fitness regime. 100 12 Nov 1915 Birth of Roland Barthes, French literary theorist, semiotician, philosopher, essayist and social/literary critic. 100 14 Nov 1915 Birth of E. Digby Baltzell, American sociologist and educator. Best known for popularising the term WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant). 100 14 Nov 1915 Death of Theodor Leschetizky, Polish pianist, piano teacher and composer. Considered the most influential piano teacher of his era. 100 14 Nov 1915 Death of Booker T. Washington, American educator, reformer, writer and presidential adviser. Born into slavery. The main spokesman for the African American community in the decade before his death. First president of Tuskegee University, Alabama. 100 19 Nov 1915 Birth of Earl W. Sutherland, Jr., American physiologist and pharmacologist. Winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his work on the actions and mechanisms of hormones. 100 19 Nov 1915 Death of Joe Hill, Swedish-born American trade union activist, songwriter and folk hero. (Executed.) 100 19 Nov 1915 Death of Solomon Schechter, Romanian rabbi, scholar, researcher and educator. A noted authority on the Talamud. Founder and president of the United Synagogue of America. President of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Leader of the Conservative Judaism movement in the USA. 100 20 Nov 1915 Birth of Kon Ichikawa, Japanese film director. 100 23 Nov 1915 Birth of Julio César Méndez Montenegro, President of Guatemala (1966–70). Considered a puppet of the military regime. 100 25 Nov 1915 World War I: the Serbian Army began a full retreat into Albania following the invasion of Serbia by Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. About 240,000 Serbs died during the long march through harsh conditions. 100 25 Nov 1915 Birth of Augusto Pinochet, President/dictator of Chile (1974–90). 100 26 Nov 1915 Birth of Earl Wild, award-winning American piano virtuoso and composer. One of the most technically accomplished pianists in history. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 198 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 28 Nov 1915 Birth of Yves Thériault, prolific Canadian novelist and radio/television ? scriptwriter. Best known for his novel Agaguk. (Britannica gives his year of birth as 1916.) 100 28 Nov 1915 Death of Mubarak Al-Sabah, (Mubarak the Great), Emir of Kuwait (1896–1915). Believed to have ascended the throne by killing his half- brother Muhammad Al-Sabah. 100 29 Nov 1915 Birth of Billy Strayhorn, American jazz pianist, composer and arranger. Best known for his long collaboration with Duke Ellington. 100 29 Nov 1915 Death of Luigi Capuana, influential Italian writer, journalist and critic. One of the most important members of the Verist movement whose members advocated realism. 100 30 Nov 1915 Birth of Angier Biddle Duke, American diplomat, U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, Denmark, Spain and Morocco. Chief of Protocol for two U.S. Presidents and for John F. Kennedy’s funeral. President of the Council of American Ambassadors (1992–95). (Killed while rollerblading, aged 79.) 100 30 Nov 1915 Birth of Brownie McGhee, American blues singer, musician and song- writer. Known for his long partnership with the singer and harmonica player Sonny Terry. 100 30 Nov 1915 Birth of Henry Taube, Canadian-born American chemist. Winner of the 1983 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his studies of dissolved inorganic substances and the oxidation-reduction reaction, most notably in metal complexes. 90 10 Nov 1925 Birth of Richard Burton, Welsh stage and film actor (Cleopatra, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Taming of the Shrew, and many others). Fifth and sixth husband of the actress Elizabeth Taylor. (Died 1984.) 90 13 Nov 1925 The world’s first exhibition of Surrealist art opened at Galerie Pierre in Paris, France. 90 17 Nov 1925 Birth of Rock Hudson, American film and television actor. One of the most popular movie stars of his era. The first major celebrity to die from AIDS. (Died 1985.) 90 20 Nov 1925 Birth of Robert F. (‘Bobby’) Kennedy, American politician, Senator from New York, U.S. Attorney General (1961–64). Brother of President John F. Kennedy. (Assassinated 1968.) 90 20 Nov 1925 Death of Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, Empress of India. Queen consort of King Edward VII (1901–10). Formerly Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1844–63) and Princess of Wales (1863–1901). 90 27 Nov 1925 Birth of Ernie Wise, British television comedian and actor. Best known for his comedy partnership with Eric Morecambe (Morecambe and Wise). (Died 1999.) 90 28 Nov 1925 The first Grand Ole Opry country music concert was held in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, and also broadcast on the radio. 80 1 Nov 1935 Birth of Edward Said, Palestinian-born American literary theorist, cultural critic, academic, writer and political activist. A powerful supporter of the rights of the Palestinian people. (Died 2003.) 80 3 Nov 1935 The Greek monarchy was restored and King George II regained the throne. (Greece had been a republic since 1924.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 199 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 5 Nov 1935 The board game Monopoly was launched by Parker Brothers. 80 6 Nov 1935 Britain’s Hawker Hurricane fighter plane made its first flight. It played a major role in WWII, especially during the Battle of Britain. 80 8 Nov 1935 Birth of Alfonso López Trujillo, Colombian Roman Catholic Cardinal. President of the Pontifical Council for the Family (1990–2008). 80 13 Nov 1935 Anti-British riots broke out in Egypt. 2 people were killed and 175 injured. 80 14 Nov 1935 Holocaust: the Nazis began implementing the Nuremburg Laws, stripping German Jews of their German citizenship. The laws were extended to cover gypsies and negroes on 26th Nov. 80 14 Nov 1935 The Congress of Industrial Organizations was founded in the USA. 80 14 Nov 1935 Birth of Hussein, King of Jordan (1952–99). 80 15 Nov 1935 The Philippines becomes a self-governing commonwealth. 80 15 Nov 1935 Manuel L. Quezon became President of the Philippines. 80 15 Nov 1935 The US–Canada Reciprocal Trade Agreement was signed in Washington D.C. (The agreement came into effect in 1939 and was replaced by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade [GATT] in 1948.) 80 16 Nov 1935 Birth of Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah (also spelled Muhammad Hussein Fadl-Allah), prominent Iraqi-born Lebanese Shiite Muslim cleric/Grand Ayatollah. (Died 2010.) 80 17 Nov 1935 Birth of Toni Sailer, Austrian alpine skier. Won 3 gold medals at the 1956 Winter Olympics for the downhill, slalom and giant slalom – the first person to win all 3 events. (Died 2009.)

80 20 Nov 1935 Death of John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, British admiral of the fleet. Best known for commanding the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland during WWI. 80 22 Nov 1935 The first Trans-Pacific airmail service began as the Pan American flying boat China Clipper left San Francisco, California, USA for Manila in the Philippines. 80 23 Nov 1935 Birth of Vladislav Volkov, Soviet cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz 7 and Soyuz 11 missions. He and his two colleagues were found dead in their capsule when Soyuz 11 returned to Earth in June 1971. (Cause: decompression due to a hatch being improperly closed.) 80 28 Nov 1935 Birth of Randolph Stow, Australian novelist and poet. (Died 2010.) 80 28 Nov 1935 Death of Erich von Hornbostel, pioneering Austrian musicologist and scholar who made important contributions to ethnomusicology. 80 30 Nov 1935 Death of Fernando Pessoa, Portuguese Modernist poet. Considered one of the greatest Portuguese poets. 75 1 Nov 1940 World War II: the first air raid shelter in the USA was built in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. 75 4 Nov 1940 Death of Manuel Azaña, President of Spain (1936–39). 75 5 Nov 1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt became the only U.S. President to win a third term in office. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 200 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 75 7 Nov 1940 The Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington, USA collapsed. It is one of the most famous engineering failures in history. 75 7 Nov 1940 Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony in C was first performed, in Chicago, USA. 75 8 Nov 1940 World War II: the British RAF bombed Munich, Germany. German dictator Adolf Hitler was in the city at the time and narrowly escaped. 75 9 Nov 1940 Death of Neville Chamberlain, British Prime Minister (1937–40). 75 10 Nov 1940 Birth of Screaming Lord Sutch, colourful British musician and politician. Founder and leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Lost every election in which he stood as a candidate. (Died 1999.) 75 11 Nov 1940 World War II – the Battle of Taranto (Italy). British victory. (to 12th) The British Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft naval attack in history, from an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean. 75 11 Nov 1940 World War II: the British steamer SS Automedon was attacked by a German ship off Sumatra. A German boarding party found 15 bags of top secret mail and documents intended for the British Far East Command. The Automedon was sunk and the secret documents taken to the German Embassy in Toyko, Japan, where copies were sent to Berlin, Germany and also passed to the Japanese. 75 11 Nov 1940 Armistice Day Blizzard, American Midwest. 145 people were killed. (to 12th) 75 11 Nov 1940 The Willys-Overland Company launched the vehicle that would become known as the Jeep. (On this date they submitted a prototype 4-wheel drive vehicle to the U.S. Army for testing.) 75 13 Nov 1940 The première of Walt Disney’s animated movie Fantasia, in New York City, USA. 75 14 Nov 1940 World War II: German Luftwaffe bombers virtually destroyed the city of Coventry, England, including the medieval cathedral. 75 15 Nov 1940 World War II: in response to the bombing of Coventry (see above), the (to 16th) British RAF bombed Hamburg, Germany over two consecutive nights. 75 15 Nov 1940 Holocaust: all Jews in Warsaw, Poland were transferred to the Warsaw Ghetto. (On 16th the Ghetto was sealed off from the outside world, with about 400,000 Jews confined within its 4 square kilometres. On 19th any Jewish property found outside the Ghetto was confiscated by the Nazis.) 75 15 Nov 1940 The Queens-Midtown Tunnel opened in New York City, USA. 75 16 Nov 1940 World War II – the Greco-Italian War – the Battle of Korytsa (now Korcë, (to 22nd) Albania). Greek victory. 75 17 Nov 1940 Death of Eric Gill, British sculptor, engraver, typographic designer and writer. His best-known typefaces include Perpetua and Gill Sans. 75 17 Nov 1940 Death of Raymond Pearl, American zoologist, academic and writer. One of the founders of biometry and biogerontology. 75 20 Nov 1940 World War II: Hungary joined the Axis powers. 75 22 Nov 1940 Death of Waclaw Berent, Polish novelist and essayist. 75 23 Nov 1940 World War II: Romania joined the Axis powers. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 201 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 75 24 Nov 1940 World War II: Slovakia joined the Axis powers. 75 25 Nov 1940 Britain’s deHavilland Mosquito multi-role combat plane made its first flight. 75 25 Nov 1940 The USA’s Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber made its first flight. 75 25 Nov 1940 Woody Woodpecker made his first appearance, in the Andy Panda cartoon Knock Knock. 75 27 Nov 1940 Romanian leader General Ion Antonescu’s pro-fascist Iron Guard arrested and executed more than 60 of exiled King Carol II’s aides. 75 27 Nov 1940 World War II – the Battle of Cape Spartivento (near Sardinia, Italy). The inconclusive battle between British and Italian forces lasted just 54 minutes, with little damage on either side. 75 27 Nov 1940 Birth of Bruce Lee, American-born film actor. Known for his martial arts movies including Enter the Dragon and Fist of Fury. (Died 1973.) 75 29 Nov 1940 Birth of Denny Doherty, Canadian singer and songwriter (The Mamas & the Papas). (Died 2007.) 70 1 Nov 1945 The North Korean daily newspaper Rodong Sinmun (meaning: Workers’ Newspaper) was first published (as Chongro). It is the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea. 70 1 Nov 1945 The first issue of the African American-focused monthly magazine Ebony was published in the USA. 70 6 Nov 1945 The first jet-powered plane (a Ryan FR-1 Fireball) to land on an aircraft carrier (the USS Wake Island), in San Diego, California, USA. 70 23 Nov 1945 The first Nuremberg trial was held in Germany. 23 of the most important – 1 Oct 1946 political and military leaders of the Third Reich were tried for war crimes. 12 of the defendants were sentenced to death and 10 were executed on 16th Oct 1946. (The other 2 were already dead.) 70 23 Nov 1945 Wartime food rationing ended in the USA. 70 29 Nov 1945 Yugoslavia abolished its monarchy and became a republic (the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia). 65 1 Nov 1950 Attempted assassination of U.S. President Harry S. Truman by two Puerto Rican nationalists. 65 1 Nov 1950 Pope Pius XII dogmatically defined the doctrine of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven (commonly known as The Assumption). 65 1 Nov 1950 Basketball player Chuck Cooper became the first African American to play in the NBA. (For the Boston Celtics.) 65 2 Nov 1950 Death of George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright and literary critic. Best known for Pygmalion. Winner of the 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature. Co-founder of the London School of Economics. The only person to win both an Academy Award and the Nobel Prize for Literature. 65 7 Nov 1950 King Tribhuvan of Nepal went into exile in India. (He returned in February 1951 and remained King of Nepal until his death in 1955.) 65 8 Nov 1950 Korean War: the first all-jet aerial dogfight in history took place, with U.S. ? jets taking on North Korea’s Chinese-supplied MiG-15s. (Some sources report that the first all-jet dogfight took place a week earlier on 1st Nov.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 202 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 65 15 Nov 1950 Arthur Dorrington became the first African American to join a professional ice hockey team (the Atlantic City Seagulls).

65 17 Nov 1950 Tenzin Gyatso, aged 15, was enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama. 65 24 Nov 1950 Korean War: U.S. forces launched the Home-by-Christmas Offensive. (It failed and they were forced to retreat. The war continued until July 1953.) 65 24 Nov 1950 The Great Appalachian Storm (also known as The Great Thanksgiving Storm or the Storm of the Century) hit eastern USA and Canada, killing more than 300 people. 65 24 Nov 1950 The musical Guys and Dolls opened on Broadway. 65 25 Nov 1950 Korean War: China launched its first counter-offensive against the UN and Allied forces, forcing them to retreat from North Korea. 60 1 Nov 1955 United Airlines Flight 629 exploded over Longmont, Colorado, USA. All 39 passengers and 5 crew were killed. The cause of the explosion was a bomb planted in the suitcase of one of the passengers by her son, who wanted to kill her for the insurance money. (Her son, Jack Gilbert Graham, was convicted in May 1956 and executed in Jan 1957.) 60 1 Nov 1955 Death of Dale Carnegie, American writer and lecturer. Known for his courses on self-improvement, salesmanship and the psychology of success. Best known for his book How to Win Friends and Influence People. 60 3 Nov 1955 David Ben-Gurion became Prime Minister of Israel for the second time. 60 4 Nov 1955 Death of Robert E. Sherwood, American playwright, editor and (or 14th?) presidential speech-writer. 60 4 Nov 1955 Death of Cy Young, American baseball player. 60 5 Nov 1955 The Vienna State Opera reopened in Austria. The original building was demolished and rebuilt after being severely damaged by U.S. incendiary bombs during WWII. 60 5 Nov 1955 Death of Maurice Utrillo, French artist. Known for his street scenes of the Montmartre quarter of Paris. 60 12 Nov 1955 Death of Alfréd Hajós, Hungarian swimmer and architect. The first Olympic swimming champion (1896). 60 13 Nov 1955 Pedro Aramburu became President of Argentina. (He was a major figure in the military coup that had ousted Juan Perón in June.) 60 15 Nov 1955 Death of Lloyd Bacon, American actor and film director who made films in almost every genre. His films include 42nd Street, A Slight Case of Murder, The Oklahoma Kid, Knute Rockne: All American, and It Happens Every Spring. 60 17 Nov 1955 Death of James P. Johnson, influential American jazz pianist and composer. A pioneer of the stride piano style. 60 19 Nov 1955 The first issue of the conservative magazine National Review was published in the USA. 60 20 Nov 1955 Death of Tomasz Arciszewski, Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile (1944–47). 60 22 Nov 1955 Death of Shemp Howard, American actor and comedian (The Three Stooges). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 203 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 60 23 Nov 1955 Control of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean was transferred from the UK to Australia. 60 24 Nov 1955 The Fokker F-27 Friendship turboprop airliner made its first flight. 60 25 Nov 1955 Civil Rights: the U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission banned the segregation of black passengers travelling on buses crossing state lines. 60 25 Nov 1955 Former British Prime Minister Clement Atlee retired as leader of the Labour Party and was succeeded by Hugh Gaitskell. 60 26 Nov 1955 A state of emergency was declared in Cyprus following an uprising against British rule. (Cyprus gained its independence in October 1960.) 60 27 Nov 1955 Death of Arthur Honegger, French-Swiss composer. Best known for the orchestral work Pacific 231. 50 2 Nov 1965 American Quaker Norman Morrison set himself on fire (and died) outside the Pentagon to protest against the USA’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Roger Allen LaPorte, a member of the Catholic Worker Movement, did the same thing outside the United Nations building in New York City on 9th Nov (he died on 10th Nov). 50 6 Nov 1965 Freedom Flights between Cuba and the USA began. The USA began air- lifting Cuban refugees to Miami, Florida. The flights ended in 1973, by which time 300,000 Cubans had been relocated. (Little Havana in Miami was established as a result of this.) 50 6 Nov 1965 Death of Edgard Varèse, innovative French-born American composer. (or 8th?) Known for his dissonant, rhythmically asymmetric compositions. 50 8 Nov 1965 The British Indian Ocean Territory (also known as the Chagos Islands) was established as a joint military facility of the UK and USA. 50 8 Nov 1965 The first episode of the soap opera Days of Our Lives was broadcast on NBC TV in the USA. 50 9 Nov 1965 The death penalty was abolished in the United Kingdom. 50 10 Nov 1965 The Manneken Pis statue in Brussels, Belgium was stolen. A replica now stands in its place. (The original was recovered but it was damaged. After being restored it is now kept at the Maison du Roi [King’s House].) 50 11 Nov 1965 Rhodesia issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain. The move was widely condemned, and the United Nations imposed economic sanctions on Rhodesia on 20th November. 50 12 Nov 1965 The Soviet Union launched its Venera 2 space probe to Venus. (It flew past Venus in Feb 1966 but failed to return any data. Declared lost in March.) 50 14 Nov 1965 Vietnam War – Operation Silver Bayonet – the Battle of the Ia Drang. (to 18th) The first major battle between regular U.S. Army forces and the North Vietnamese. One of the first battles where the U.S. used body count to measure success. Result: inconclusive – both sides claimed victory. 50 15 Nov 1965 American racing driver Craig Breedlove set a new land speed record of 600.601 mph (966.57 km/h), becoming the first person to reach 600 mph. (He was also the first person to reach 400 mph and 500 mph.) 50 16 Nov 1965 The Soviet Union launched its Venera 3 space probe to Venus. (It is thought to have crashed on Venus in March 1966 – its communications system had failed prior to its arrival.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 204 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 18 Nov 1965 Death of Henry A. Wallace, Vice-President of the United States (1941–45). 50 24 Nov 1965 Mobutu Sese Seko became President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after seizing power in a bloodless coup. 50 24 Nov 1965 Death of Abdullah III, last Sheikh and first Emir of Kuwait (1950–65). 50 25 Nov 1965 Death of Dame Myra Hess, British pianist. 50 26 Nov 1965 France became the world’s third space power when it successfully launched its satellite Astérix into orbit from Algeria. 50 29 Nov 1965 Canada’s research satellite Alouette 2 was launched in California, USA. 40 1 Nov 1975 Death of Pier Paolo Pasolini, controversial Italian film director, poet, novelist and journalist. (Murdered.) 40 3 Nov 1975 Military coup in Bangladesh. Brigadier General Khaled Mosharraf illegally installed himself as Army Chief. (He was ousted and assassinated in an uprising 4 days later, on 7th November.) 40 3 Nov 1975 Britain’s first North Sea oil pipeline was officially opened. 40 5 Nov 1975 Death of Edward L. Tatum, American biochemist and geneticist. Joint winner of the 1958 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovering that genes act by regulating chemical events. 40 5 Nov 1975 Death of Lionel Trilling, American literary critic, teacher and writer. 40 6 Nov 1975 The Green March, Morocco. About 350,000 Moroccans advanced into the Western Sahara in an effort to force Spain to hand over the disputed Province of Sahara. (This led to the 15-year Western Sahara War. See 14th.) 40 6 Nov 1975 British punk rock group the Sex Pistols gave their first public performance, at St Martin's College of Art in London. The performance was cut short and a fight broke out. 40 6 Nov 1975 The first episode of the television show Good Morning America was broadcast on ABC in the USA. 40 10 Nov 1975 Cuban intervention in the Angolan Civil War (see below). (to 1991) 40 11 Nov 1975 Angola gained its independence from Portugal and immediately began a civil war which continued (with some interludes) until April 2002. 40 11 Nov 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. The Governor-General of Australia dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, replaced him with opposition leader Malcolm Fraser, and called for a general election to be held in December. (Fraser won the election and remained PM until 1983.) 40 13 Nov 1975 Death of R. C. Sherriff, British playwright, screenwriter and novelist. Best known for his play Journey’s End about his experiences in WWI. 40 14 Nov 1975 Spain signed an agreement with Morocco and Mauritania (the Madrid Accords) and relinquished its control of Western Sahara. (Algeria objected to the agreement and began a 15-year war. Much of the territory is now administered by Morocco, though its status remains in dispute.) (See 6th.) 40 16 Nov 1975 The Third Cod War between Iceland and Great Britain. Icelandic victory. (to Jun 1976) Iceland retained its recently introduced 200-mile exclusion zone, severely damaging the British fishing industry which was already in decline. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 205 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 20 Nov 1975 Death of General Francisco Franco, Spanish dictator (1939–75). 40 22 Nov 1975 Juan Carlos I became King of Spain. 40 25 Nov 1975 Suriname gained its independence from the Netherlands. 40 27 Nov 1975 Death of Ross McWhirter, British writer, television presenter and political activist. Co-founder of the Guinness Book of Records with his twin brother Norris. (Assassinated by the IRA.) 40 28 Nov 1975 East Timor declared its independence from Portugal. (Indonesia invaded East Timor on 7th December.) 40 29 Nov 1975 Death of Graham Hill, British racing driver. Formula 1 world champion (1962 and 1968), Indianapolis 500 champion (1966). One of Britain’s greatest racing drivers. Father of Damon Hill. (Plane crash.) 40 30 Nov 1975 Dahomey was renamed Benin (officially the People’s Republic of Benin – it became the Republic of Benin in 1990). 30 1 Nov 1985 Death of Phil Silvers, award-winning American actor and comedian. Best known for playing Sergeant Bilko in The Phil Silvers Show.

30 5 Nov 1985 The 13th century Reliquary of St. Maurus was discovered under the floor of the chapel in Becov nad Teplou castle, Czech Republic, where it had been hidden during WWII. (It is now on display at the castle following 6 years of restoration.) 30 5 Nov 1985 Death of Spencer W. Kimball, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1973–85). 30 6 Nov 1985 An exploratory oil well at Ranger, Texas, USA exploded. 6.3 million gallons of oil were spilled – the 4th largest oil spill in U.S. history.

30 6 Nov 1985 Palace of Justice siege, Bogotá, Colombia. Guerrillas belonging to the 19th (to 7th) of April Movement took control of the building and held the Supreme Court hostage. 11 Supreme Court Justices were killed, as were 48 Colombian soldiers and all 35 guerrillas. 11 others (mostly palace staff) were declared missing after the siege. The building was left in ruins – it was demolished in 1989 and rebuilt. 30 9 Nov 1985 Garry Kasparov of the Soviet Union became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at the age of 22. 30 9 Nov 1985 Death of Helen Rose, Academy Award-winning American costume and clothing designer. Best known for her work with MGM. She also designed wedding dresses for Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco) and Elizabeth Taylor. 30 13 Nov 1985 The Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupted, triggering a mudslide that buried the city of Armero and killed 23,000 people. 30 13 Nov 1985 Death of George Robert Vincent, American sound recording pioneer and archivist. Known for his extensive collection of voice recordings of notable people. His collection now forms part of the G. Robert Vincent Voice Library at Michigan State University. 30 15 Nov 1985 The Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed in Dublin by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish President Garret Fitzerald. It gave the Irish Government a consultative role in the affairs of Northern Ireland. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 206 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 30 17 Nov 1985 Death of Jimmy Ritz, American singer, dancer, comedian and actor (the Ritz Brothers). 30 18 Nov 1985 The comic strip Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson was first published. (It ended in Dec 1995.) 30 19 Nov 1985 A jury in Texas, USA awarded the oil company Pennzoil $10.53 billion in a settlement against Texaco. Pennzoil had entered an agreement to buy Getty Oil, but Texaco jumped in and bought Getty Oil for itself. (The award was the largest in U.S. history, but was eventually settled for $3 billion after Texaco filed for bankruptcy.) 30 19 Nov 1985 US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met for the first time at a superpower summit in Geneva, Switzerland. 30 19 Nov 1985 Death of Stepin Fetchit, American comedian and film actor. 30 20 Nov 1985 Microsoft Windows 1.0 was released. 30 21 Nov 1985 American intelligence analyst Jonathan Pollard was arrested for selling classified information about Arab nations, Pakistan and the Soviet Union to Israel. In 1987 he was sentenced to life imprisonment. (He may be eligible for release in November 2015.) 30 22 Nov 1985 The largest series of naturalisation ceremonies ever held in the USA took place in Los Angeles, California. 38,648 people became U.S. citizens during 6 days of ceremonies at the LA Convention Center. 30 22 Nov 1985 Two French secret service agents were found guilty of bombing the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand. They were sentenced to 10 years in jail for manslaughter and arson. 30 23 Nov 1985 Palestinian gunmen hijacked EgyptAir Flight 648 en route from Athens to Cairo and forced it to land in Malta. Egyptian commandos stormed the plane on 24th. Dozens of passengers were killed. 30 24 Nov 1985 Death of Big Joe Turner, American jazz and blues singer. 30 26 Nov 1985 Death of Vivien Thomas, American surgeon. Best known for developing procedures to treat blue baby syndrome. 30 27 Nov 1985 Death of Fernand Braudel, French historian and writer. Leader of the (or 28th?) Annales school. One of the most important historians of the 20th century. 30 29 Nov 1985 Death of Bill Scott, American voice actor, writer and producer. Best known as the voice of Bullwinkle in The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. 25 1 Nov 1990 British Deputy Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Howe resigned due to disagreements over the Government’s policy on Europe. 25 3 Nov 1990 Gro Harlem Brundtland became Prime Minister of Norway for the third time. (She became Norway’s first first female PM in 1981.) 25 3 Nov 1990 Death of Mary Martin, award-winning American stage, film and television actress and singer. Best known for her leading roles in many Broadway musicals. Mother of the actor Larry Hagman. 25 5 Nov 1990 U.S. President George H. W. Bush signed the 1990 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act into law, raising taxes despite his 1988 electoral campaign promise: ‘Read my lips: no new taxes’. (Many commentators believe this cost him the 1992 election, which he lost to Bill Clinton.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 207 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 5 Nov 1990 Death of Herbert Berghof, Austrian-born American acting coach. His students included Anne Bancroft, Matthew Broderick, Robert De Niro, Liza Minnelli, Al Pacino, Geraldine Page, and many more. 25 5 Nov 1990 Death of Meir Kahane, American-born Israeli rabbi and political extremist. Founder of the Jewish Defence League and the Kach party. (Assassinated.) 25 7 Nov 1990 Mary Robinson became the first female President of Ireland. 25 7 Nov 1990 Death of Lawrence Durrell, Indian-born British novelist, poet, playwright and travel writer. Known for his series of novels The Alexandria Quartet. 25 8 Nov 1990 The play Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare opened on Broadway. It popularised the six degrees of separation theory first proposed by the Hungarian writer Frigyes Karinthy. 25 8 Nov 1990 Death of Anya Seton (pen name of Ann Seton Chase), American historical romance novelist. 25 9 Nov 1990 Typhoon Mike hit the Philippines, killing at least 748 people and causing (to 15th) massive destruction. 25 9 Nov 1990 Nepal became a constitutional monarchy. (The monarchy was abolished in May 2008 and Nepal became a republic.) 25 9 Nov 1990 John Malecela became Prime Minister of Tanzania. 25 11 Nov 1990 Death of Yiannis (also spelled Yannis) Ritsos, Greek poet and left-wing activist whose work was banned several times. He was also an active member of the Greek Resistance during WWII. 25 12 Nov 1990 Crown Prince Akihito, eldest son of Emperor Hirohito, was formally enthroned as Emperor of Japan. 25 12 Nov 1990 British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee published a formal proposal for the World Wide Web. 25 12 Nov 1990 Death of Eve Arden, American stage, film and television actress. Best known for her leading role in the radio and TV series Our Miss Brooks. 25 13 Nov 1990 Aramoana massacre, New Zealand. David Gray shot and killed 13 people (to 14th) after a dispute with a neighbour. Gray was shot dead by police the following day when he fired at them. This is the deadliest shooting incident in New Zealand’s history. Police sergeant Stewart Guthrie was killed in the massacre, and subsequently awarded the George Cross. 25 14 Nov 1990 The German-Polish Border Treaty was signed in Warsaw, Poland. It confirmed the Oder-Neisse line as the official border between the two countries and came into effect on 16th January 1992. 25 14 Nov 1990 Death of Malcolm Muggeridge, British journalist, editor, writer, satirist ? and television personality. (Britannica gives his date of death as 24th.) 25 15 Nov 1990 The Clear Air Act Amendments of 1990 were signed into law by U.S. President George H. W. Bush. 25 17 Nov 1990 Death of Robert Hofstadter, American physicist. Joint winner of the 1961 Nobel Prize for Physics for discovering the structure of protons and neutrons.

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Ann. Date Event 25 19 Nov 1990 Pop duo Milli Vanilli were stripped of their Grammy Award for Best New Artist when it was revealed that neither of them sang on their records. 25 21 Nov 1990 The Cold War ended as leaders of NATO and Warsaw Pact states signed the Charter of Paris and a treaty on conventional forces in Europe. 25 22 Nov 1990 British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced her resignation. (See 28th below.) 25 23 Nov 1990 Death of Roald Dahl, British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Matilda, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The BFG, and more). 25 23 Nov 1990 Death of Nguyen Van Tam, Prime Minister of Vietnam (1952–53). 25 24 Nov 1990 Death of Dodie Smith, British novelist and playwright. Best known for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians – adapted into a Disney movie. 25 26 Nov 1990 Lee Kuan Yew resigned as Prime Minister of Singapore after 31 years in office. 25 27 Nov 1990 Death of David White, American stage, film and TV actor. Best known for his role as Larry Tate (Darrin’s boss) in the TV sitcom Bewitched. 25 28 Nov 1990 British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher formally resigned, and John Major took over. (See also 22nd above). 25 28 Nov 1990 Death of Tamara De Treaux, American dwarf actress. Best known for her uncredited role as the alien in the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. 25 29 Nov 1990 The UN Security Council authorised the use of force against Iraq if it failed to withdraw from Kuwait and free all foreign hostages by 15th January 1991. 25 30 Nov 1990 Death of Norman Cousins, American political journalist, editor and world peace advocate. Editor-in-chief of Saturday Review (1942–72). 20 1 Nov 1995 Death of Desmond Shawe-Taylor, British music critic. Known for his work for The New Statesman, The New Yorker and The Gramophone, and for his reference work The Record Guide, co-written with Edward Sackville- West. 20 2 Nov 1995 Death of Florence Greenberg, American record company founder and producer (Tiara Records, Scepter Records and Wand Records). 20 2 Nov 1995 Death of Ollie Harrington, American cartoonist and civil rights advocate. Regarded as ‘America’s greatest African American cartoonist’. Moved to Berlin, East Germany in 1961 where he sought political asylum after suspecting that his friend (writer Richard Wright) had been assassinated. 20 4 Nov 1995 Death of Marti Caine, British singer, comedienne and TV presenter who found fame after winning the TV talent show New Faces. 20 4 Nov 1995 Death of Gilles Deleuze, French philosopher, writer and educator. (Suicide.) 20 4 Nov 1995 Death of Paul Eddington, British television actor. Best known for his roles as Jerry Leadbetter in The Good Life (USA: Good Neighbors), and Jim Hacker in Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. 20 4 Nov 1995 Death of Yitzhak Rabin, Prime Minister of Israel (1974–77, 1992–95). Joint winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize. (Assassinated.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 209 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 4 Nov 1995 Death of Eddie Egan, American police officer who helped break up an organised crime ring in New York City in 1961. His story is told in the film The French Connection, in which he is played by Gene Hackman. 20 5 Nov 1995 A paranoid schizophrenic teenager broke into the home of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, intending to stab him to death. He was thwarted when Chrétien’s wife locked the bedroom door, but he waited in their home until police arrived (after a considerable delay) and arrested him. (Police officers who should have been monitoring the security system were suspended or assigned to other duties.) 20 7 Nov 1995 Death of Jerry Daniels, American doo-wop/R&B singer (The Ink Spots). 20 7 Nov 1995 Death of John Patrick, American playwright and screenwriter. Known for his play Teahouse of the August Moon and his screenplays for Three Coins in the Fountain, Love is a Many Splendored Thing and High Society. 20 10 Nov 1995 Death of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Nigerian writer and environmental/human rights activist. (Executed.) 20 11 Nov 1995 Death of Corneliu Coposu, Romanian Conservative politician who was jailed and persecuted for his anti-communist activities. He later became leader of the opposition. 20 11 Nov 1995 Death of Charles Scribner, Jr., American publisher. Head of the Charles Scribner’s Sons book publishing company (1952–84). (The company was founded by his great-grandfather.) 20 12 Nov 1995 Death of Jackie Mann, British RAF Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain who was kidnapped in Lebanon in 1989 and held hostage by Islamic terrorists for over two years. 20 12 Nov 1995 Death of Sir Robert Stephens, British actor. One of the most respected actors of his era. Closely associated with the National Theatre. Husband of the actress Dame Maggie Smith. 20 13 Nov 1995 Death of Ralph Blane, American songwriter who collaborated with Hugh Martin to write many popular standards, including Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and The Trolley Song. 20 14 Nov 1995 U.S. President Bill Clinton blocked two temporary funding measures in a (to 19th) dispute with Congress over the 1996 budget. As a result, national parks and museums were forced to close and government offices ran reduced services. (There was another shutdown between 16th Dec and 6th Jan 1996 when temporary finance provision expired.) 20 14 Nov 1995 Death of Jack Finney, American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Best known for his novels The Body Snatchers (also called Invasion of the Body Snatchers) and Time and Again. 20 17 Nov 1995 Death of Alan Hull, British folk-rock singer and songwriter (Lindisfarne). 20 17 Nov 1995 Death of Marguerite Young, American poet, writer, critic and educator. Best known for her mammoth novel Miss MacIntosh, My Darling. 20 19 Nov 1995 The U.S. première of the film Toy Story. It was the first feature-length computer-generated film, and the first full-length film made by Pixar. (Released USA: 22nd Nov, UK: 22nd Mar 1996.)

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Ann. Date Event 20 20 Nov 1995 Princess Diana admitted that she had committed adultery, and spoke openly about her separation from the Prince of Wales in a frank interview for the BBC. 20 20 Nov 1995 Death of Sergei Grinkov, Russian figure skater. He and his wife Ekaterina Gordeeva were Olympic pairs champions in 1988 and 1994, and 4-times world champions. (Alternative spellings of their first names: Sergey, Yekaterina.) 20 21 Nov 1995 The civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina ended with the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in Ohio, USA. (Ratified in Paris, France on 14th December.) 20 21 Nov 1995 Death of Peter Grant, British rock music manager (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company) and record company executive. Noted for his shrewd management skills and ruthlessness. Helped gain significant improvements to musicians’ pay and conditions for live performances. 20 21 Nov 1995 Death of Dorothy Jeakins, award-winning American costume designer for films including Joan of Arc, Samson and Delilah and Night of the Iguana. 20 22 Nov 1995 British serial killer Rose West was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 10 young women and girls. 20 23 Nov 1995 Death of Louis Malle, award-winning French film director, screenwriter and producer. 20 23 Nov 1995 Death of Junior Walker, American saxophonist (Junior Walker and the All Stars – a popular Motown group). 20 24 Nov 1995 In a referendum, the citizens of Ireland narrowly voted in favour of legalising divorce. 20 24 Nov 1995 Death of Stuart Henry, Scottish radio DJ. Best known for his work on BBC Radio 1 and Radio Luxembourg. 20 26 Nov 1995 Death of Charles Warrell, (‘Big Chief I-Spy’), British writer, publisher and teacher. Known for his popular series of I-Spy spotters’ guides for children. 20 28 Nov 1995 The 55 mph federal speed limit was abolished in the USA (effective from 8th Dec). Individual states became free to set their own maximum speed limits – typically 65 or 70 mph, but 75 mph in a few states. (The 55 mph limit was introduced during the 1974 Middle East oil embargo.) 20 29 Nov 1995 Death of Irene Ighodaro, the first female West African doctor. President of the Young Women’s Christian Association of Nigeria. First President of the Medical Association of Nigerian Women. 20 30 Nov 1995 Bill Clinton became the first serving U.S. President to visit Northern Ireland. 15 2 Nov 2000 The first crew moved into the International Space Station.

15 7 Nov 2000 George W. Bush was elected as the 43rd President of the United States, though the final outcome would not be known for over a month because of disputed votes in Florida. 15 7 Nov 2000 Hillary Clinton became the first former First Lady to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

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Ann. Date Event 15 11 Nov 2000 Kaprun disaster, Austria. A funicular railway car caught fire while being pulled through an Alpine tunnel. 155 skiers/snowboarders were killed. 15 16 Nov 2000 Bill Clinton became the first U.S. President to visit Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War. 15 24 Nov 2000 The Sony PlayStation 2 games console was released in Europe. 15 25 Nov 2000 Baku earthquake, Azerbaijan. 26 people were killed. 15 27 Nov 2000 Nigerian schoolboy Damilola Taylor, aged 10, died after being stabbed in the leg by a gang of hooded attackers near his home in south London, UK. 15 30 Nov 2000 The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 came into effect in the UK. It included the controversial ‘right to roam’ which had been long sought by ramblers, and several disputed areas became accessible as a result. 10 1 Nov 2005 Death of Skitch Henderson, American pianist, composer and conductor. Best known as the bandleader for The Tonight Show and the founder of the New York Pops orchestra. 10 5 Nov 2005 Death of John Fowles, British novelist (The French Lieutenant’s Woman). 10 5 Nov 2005 Death of Link Wray, influential American rock and roll guitarist. Inventor of the power chord. Noted for his fuzzy, feedback-laden electric guitar sound. Best known for his instrumental hit Rumble (banned by several radio stations for inciting violence – though tame by modern standards). 10 7 Nov 2005 India and Pakistan opened the disputed Kashmir border between the two countries to allow aid from India to reach victims of the 8th October earth- quake. Other crossing points were opened over the following days. Initially only aid workers were allowed to cross, angering civilians. (24 civilians were allowed to cross on 19th Nov.) 10 7 Nov 2005 Death of Harry Thompson, British radio and TV producer, writer and biographer. Producer of the TV comedy/quiz shows Have I Got News For You, They Think It’s All Over and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. 10 8 Nov 2005 Death of Adel al-Zubeidi, Iraqi lawyer. A defence attorney involved in the trial of Saddam Hussein and other defendants. (Killed by gunmen in Baghdad – the second lawyer in the trial to be killed.) 10 9 Nov 2005 Amman hotel bombings, Jordan. Suicide bombers attacked 3 hotels often used by foreign diplomats. 60 people were killed (plus the 3 bombers) and 115 injured. Among those killed were 38 guests at a wedding party. 10 9 Nov 2005 The European Space Agency’s Venus Express spacecraft was launched. (It went into polar orbit around Venus in April 2006 and at the time of writing remains in operation.) 10 9 Nov 2005 Death of K. R. Narayanan, President of India (1997–2002). 10 11 Nov 2005 Death of Moustapha Akkad, Syrian-born American film producer and director. Best known as the producer of the Halloween series of films. 10 11 Nov 2005 Death of Peter Drucker, Austrian-born American management consultant, theorist, writer and educator. A leader in the development of management education. He wrote many books on business management.

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Ann. Date Event 10 13 Nov 2005 Death of Vine Deloria, Jr., Native American (Sioux) writer, historian, educator and activist who brought Native American issues to national attention. Known for his book Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto. President of the National Congress of American Indians. 10 15 Nov 2005 Death of Adrian Rogers, American pastor and writer. President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1979–80, 1986–88). 10 16 Nov 2005 Death of Henry Taube, Canadian-born American chemist. Winner of the 1983 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his studies of dissolved inorganic substances and the oxidation-reduction reaction, most notably in metal complexes. 10 16 Nov 2005 Death of Preston Robert (‘Bob’) Tisch, American financier and philanthropist. Co-owner of the Loews Hotel chain and the New York Giants football team. U.S. Postmaster General (1986–88). He made substantial donations to educational and medical institutions. 10 16 Nov 2005 Death of Donald Watson, British teacher and founder of the Vegan Society. Coined the term ‘vegan’. 10 18 Nov 2005 A civil jury in Los Angeles found American actor Robert Blake liable for the wrongful death of his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, and ordered him to pay $30 million. (A criminal trial jury had acquitted him in March.) 10 20 Nov 2005 Death of Chris Whitley, critically acclaimed American blues-rock singer, guitarist and songwriter. 10 21 Nov 2005 Death of Alfred Anderson, Scottish soldier and joiner. The last surviving British WWI veteran. 10 22 Nov 2005 Angela Merkel became the first female Chancellor of Germany. 10 22 Nov 2005 Microsoft released the Xbox 360 games console in the USA. (Europe: 2nd December.) 10 22 Nov 2005 Death of Frank (‘Gunner’) Gatski, American football player. 10 22 Nov 2005 Death of Bruce Hobbs, British jockey and racehorse trainer. The youngest (or 21st?) jockey to win the Grand National. 10 23 Nov 2005 Death of Constance Cummings, Tony Award-winning American-born British stage and film actress whose career spanned almost 70 years. 10 24 Nov 2005 The Licensing Act 2003 came into effect in England and Wales. It introduced flexibility to pub opening hours, with the potential for 24-hour opening. 10 24 Nov 2005 Death of Pat Morita, American film and television actor. Best known for playing Arnold in the TV series Happy Days and Mr. Miyagi in the film series The Karate Kid. 10 25 Nov 2005 Death of George Best, Northern Irish footballer. European Footballer of the Year (1968). Also known for his long battle with alcoholism, which eventually led to his death. 10 25 Nov 2005 Death of Richard Burns, British rally driver. World Rally Champion 2001. 10 26 Nov 2005 Death of Stan Berenstain, American children’s author and illustrator who created The Berenstain Bears series of books with his wife Jan.

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Ann. Date Event 10 27 Nov 2005 The world’s first partial face transplant was carried out in France. The patient, Isabelle Dinoire, had been mauled by a dog. 10 28 Nov 2005 Canada’s three opposition parties claimed that the Liberal Government was corrupt, and the House of Commons passed a vote of no confidence. Parliament was dissolved the following day, forcing a federal election to be held (on 23rd Jan 2006). 10 30 Nov 2005 John Sentamu became Archbishop of York – the first black archbishop in the Church of England.

DECEMBER 2015

Ann. Date Event 500 2 Dec 1515 Death of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, (‘The Great Captain’), Spanish (or 1st?) general and military strategist who took part in the Conquest of Granada and the Italian Wars. Regarded as the ‘father of trench warfare’. 500 16 Dec 1515 Death of Afonso de Albuquerque (Albuquerque the Great), Portuguese (or 15th?) general, Viceroy of India, conqueror and first Duke of Goa. 500 24 Dec 1515 Thomas Wolsey was appointed Lord Chancellor of England. 300 14 Dec 1715 Death of Thomas Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury (1694–1714). 300 23 Dec 1715 Jacobite Rising: the Jacobite Pretender James Francis Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) arrived in Scotland from France. (He failed to establish himself as a credible leader and swiftly returned to France.) 300 24 Dec 1715 Great Northern War – the Siege of Stralsund (Swedish Pomerania) ended. Prussian-Danish-Saxon-Russian coalition victory. Stralsund then remained under Danish control until 1720. (Stralsund is now in Germany.) 300 28 Dec 1715 Death of William Carstares, Scottish Presbyterian minister. Head of the Church of Scotland. Arrested for subversive activities. 250 8 Dec 1765 Birth of Eli Whitney, American inventor of the cotton gin. 250 20 Dec 1765 Death of Louis, Dauphin of France. Son of King Louis XV. Father of the French kings Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X. 250 22 Dec 1765 Birth of Johann Friedrich Pfaff, German mathematician. 200 3 Dec 1815 Death of John Carroll, the first Roman Catholic bishop in the USA and the first archbishop of Baltimore, Maryland. 200 5 Dec 1815 The city of Maceió in Brazil was founded. 200 7 Dec 1815 Death of Michel Ney, Marshal of France. Executed for treason for supporting Napoleon. 200 8 Dec 1815 Birth of Adolph Menzel (also known as Adolf von Menzel), German artist and printmaker. One of the most prominent and successful German artists of his era.

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Ann. Date Event 200 10 Dec 1815 Birth of Ada, Countess of Lovelace, British mathematician. Best known for her work with Charles Babbage. Considered the world’s first computer programmer. Daughter of the poet Lord Byron. 200 11 Dec 1815 The United States Senate Committee on Finance was established (as a select committee known as the Committee on Finance and an [sic] Uniform National Currency). 200 21 Dec 1815 Birth of Thomas Couture, influential French artist and teacher whose students included Édouard Manet. 200 22 Dec 1815 Birth of Johann Jakob Bachofen, Swiss judge, anthropologist, antiquarian and educator. Best known for his studies of matriarchy in ancient times. 200 22 Dec 1815 Death of José María Morelos, Mexican priest and revolutionary who led the Mexican independence movement. (Executed for treason.) 200 23 Dec 1815 Birth of Henry Highland Garnet, American Presbyterian minister and leading anti-slavery campaigner. 200 31 Dec 1815 Birth of George Meade, American army officer and engineer. Best known for defeating Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg. Played a key role in the Reconstruction after the Civil War. 175 11 Dec 1840 Death of Kokaku, Emperor of Japan (1780–1817). 175 15 Dec 1840 A state funeral was held in France for the former Emperor Napoleon Bonapart, and his remains were entombed at Les Invalides in Paris. (He had died 19 years earlier, in exile on the island of Saint Helena.) 150 1 Dec 1865 Shaw University was founded in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (as the Raleigh Institute). 150 4 Dec 1865 Birth of Edith Cavell, British nurse and WWI heroine who saved the lives of injured soldiers regardless of which side they were on. (Executed in 1915 for helping Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium.) 150 5 Dec 1865 Chincha Islands War: Chile and Peru signed an alliance against Spain. (Peru then declared war on Spain on 14th Jan 1866. Ecuador joined the alliance on 30th Jan.) 150 6 Dec 1865 The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was officially adopted, abolishing slavery in the USA. 150 8 Dec 1865 Birth of Jacques Hadamard, French mathematician and educator who made several major contributions to mathematics and proved the prime number theorem. 150 8 Dec 1865 Birth of Jean Sibelius, Finnish composer. Considered the most important Scandinavian symphonic composer. 150 10 Dec 1865 Death of Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians (1831–65). Succeeded by his son Leopold II. 150 17 Dec 1865 The première of Franz Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony (Symphony No. 8), sometimes considered the first Romantic symphony. 150 19 Dec 1865 Birth of Minnie Maddern Fiske, important American stage actress. Known for the realism of her performances, most notably in plays by Ibsen. 150 19 Dec 1865 Birth of Hermann Hirt, influential German linguist. Noted for his

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Ann. Date Event 150 20 Dec 1865 Birth of Elsie De Wolfe, American interior designer, actress and socialite. Considered to have created the role of interior designer as a profession. 150 24 Dec 1865 The first Ku Klux Klan was established in Pulaski, Tennessee, USA by a group of Confederate veterans. (It existed until the 1870s.) 150 24 Dec 1865 Death of Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, British Neoclassical artist, writer, art collector and gallery director. First director of the National Gallery. President of the Royal Academy. 150 25 Dec 1865 Birth of Evangeline Booth, British-born Salvation Army leader. Its first female general. 150 29 Dec 1865 The final issue of the anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator was published in Boston, Massachusetts, USA by abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. 150 30 Dec 1865 Birth of Rudyard Kipling, British short story writer, novelist, poet, and children’s author. Best known for The Jungle Book, Just So Stories, Kim, The Man Who Would Be King, Gunga Din, If–, and more. Winner of the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature. 125 5 Dec 1890 Birth of Fritz Lang, Austrian-born American film director. Best known for Metropolis, M, The Big Heat and the Dr. Mabuse series. 125 15 Dec 1890 Death of Sitting Bull, Native American leader of the Sioux Indians. (Shot dead by police.) 125 18 Dec 1890 Birth of Edwin Armstrong, prolific American electrical engineer and inventor. Inventor of FM radio. Made major contributions to radio communications and modern electronics. 125 22 Dec 1890 The Cornwallis Valley Railway began operating in Nova Scotia, Canada. (It remained in operation until 1993, mostly as a branch line of the Dominion Atlantic Railway.) 125 25 Dec 1890 Birth of Robert Ripley, American cartoonist who created Ripley’s Believe It ? or Not! (Date of birth is disputed.) 125 29 Dec 1890 The Wounded Knee Massacre (also called the Battle of Wounded Knee), South Dakota, USA. Troops from the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment shot and killed about 300 members of the Lakota tribe. 125 29 Dec 1890 Death of Spotted Elk (also known as Big Foot), Native American leader of the Lakota Sioux Indians. (Killed in the Wounded Knee Massacre.) 125 30 Dec 1890 Birth of Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, President of Mexico (1952–58). 100 2 Dec 1915 Birth of Randolph Apperson Hearst, American publishing executive. Son of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Father of Patricia Hearst who was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974. 100 4 Dec 1915 American naval officer Frank Friday Fletcher became the first admiral to receive the Medal of Honor. (For his actions in the Battle of Veracruz, in which he was a rear admiral. He was promoted to admiral in Mar 1915.) 100 4 Dec 1915 The second Ku Klux Klan was founded, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. (It existed until 1944.) 100 7 Dec 1915 World War I – the Siege of Kut (Kut-al-Amara, Mesopotamia – now Iraq). – 29 Apr Ottoman victory. 1916 www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 216 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 7 Dec 1915 World War I – the Gallipoli Campaign: the allies began evacuating troops as the situation in Gallipoli became untenable (close proximity of Ottoman forces and a harsh winter approaching). The last ANZAC troops left on 20th. Helles was evacuated on 28th. The last British troops left on 8th Jan 1916 and the campaign was declared over on 9th Jan. 100 7 Dec 1915 Birth of Leigh Brackett, American science fiction writer and screenwriter. Best known for co-writing the screenplays for The Big Sleep and The Empire Strikes Back.

100 8 Dec 1915 Jean Sibelius’s 5th Symphony was first performed, in Helsinki, Finland. (The version most commonly performed today premièred in Nov 1919.) 100 8 Dec 1915 The war poem In Flanders Fields, by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, was first published in Punch magazine in the UK. 100 8 Dec 1915 Birth of Ernest Lehman, American screenwriter (North by Northwest, Sabrina, West Side Story, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?). 100 9 Dec 1915 Birth of Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, German-born Austrian/British soprano. 100 10 Dec 1915 The Ford Motor Company produced its 1 millionth car. (It produced its 10 millionth car in 1924 and its 20 millionth in 1931.) 100 12 Dec 1915 The President of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai, reinstated the monarchy (briefly) and became Emperor of the Empire of China. (The monarchy was abolished in March 1916.) 100 12 Dec 1915 Birth of Frank Sinatra, American singer and film actor. One of the best- selling artists of all time. A founding member of the Rat Pack. 100 13 Dec 1915 Birth of Curt Jurgens, German-born Austrian stage, film and television actor (The Spy Who Loved Me [film], Fall of Eagles [TV series], Smiley’s People [TV series]). 100 13 Dec 1915 Birth of Ross Macdonald (pen name of Kenneth Millar), American mystery writer. Known for his hard-boiled detective novels featuring the character Lew Archer. 100 13 Dec 1915 Birth of John Vorster, President of South Africa (1978–79 – resigned after 8 months due to a political scandal.) 100 15 Dec 1915 Birth of José Toribio Merino Castro, Chilean admiral who, with General Augusto Pinochet, led the 1973 Chilean coup and established a military junta that ruled Chile until 1990. 100 16 Dec 1915 Birth of Georgy Sviridov, Russian Neoromantic composer and pianist. 100 18 Dec 1915 U.S. President Woodrow Wilson married Edith Galt. 100 18 Dec 1915 Birth of Dario Mangiarotti, Italian fencer. Gold and silver medallist at the 1952 Olympics. 100 19 Dec 1915 Birth of Édith Piaf, French singer and actress. One of France’s greatest international stars. Best known for the songs Non, je ne regrette rien and La Vie en rose. 100 19 Dec 1915 Death of Alois Alzheimer, German neuropathologist who identified the first published case of presenile dementia (later named Alzheimer’s Disease). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 217 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 100 20 Dec 1915 Birth of Aziz Nesin, militant Turkish novelist, short story writer, play- wright and satirist whose works attack bureaucracy and hypocrisy. 100 21 Dec 1915 Birth of Werner von Trapp, Austrian-born American singer. A member of the Trapp Family Singers. 100 22 Dec 1915 The Federal League (baseball) was dissolved in the USA when club owners signed an agreement which ended their dispute with Major League Baseball. 100 22 Dec 1915 Birth of Barbara Billingsley, American stage, film and TV actress. Best known for her role as June Cleaver in the TV series Leave It to Beaver. 100 25 Dec 1915 Birth of Pete Rugolo, Italian-born American jazz composer and arranger. Chief arranger for the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Also known for his film and television scores. 100 27 Dec 1915 Birth of William H. Masters, American gynaecologist known for his pioneering research on human sexuality and sexual dysfunction. Co-founder of the Masters & Johnson Institute. 100 28 Dec 1915 San Francisco City Hall opened in California, USA. (It replaced the one that was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.) 100 30 Dec 1915 The British armoured cruiser HMS Natal exploded and sank near Cromarty, Scotland after its on-board ammunition exploded – possibly due to faulty cordite. Up to 421 people were killed. 90 1 Dec 1925 The Locarno Treaties were signed in London, settling territorial boundaries and normalising relations between countries following the end of WWI. (Effective from 14th Sept 1926.) 90 8 Dec 1925 Reza Shah Pahlavi became Shah of Iran after seizing power in a coup. 90 8 Dec 1925 Birth of Sammy Davis, Jr., American singer, dancer, actor and entertainer. (Died 1990.) 90 12 Dec 1925 The world’s first motel opened in San Luis Obispo, California, USA. Originally named the Milestone Mo-Tel, it is now known as the Motel Inn of San Luis Obispo. (It closed down in 1991. Earlier motels dating back to 1915 have been discovered, though they did not use the name motel.) 90 16 Dec 1925 The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation was founded (as Colombo Radio, later named Radio Ceylon). 90 17 Dec 1925 The Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact with Turkey. 90 21 Dec 1925 The première of Sergei Eisenstein’s silent film Battleship Potemkin, in Moscow, Russia. (Released: Russia: 24th Dec, USA: 5th Dec 1926.) 90 26 Dec 1925 The Communist Party of India was officially founded. 90 26 Dec 1925 Turkey adopted the Gregorian Calendar. 80 1 Dec 1935 Death of Bernhard Schmidt, German optician, inventor of the Schmidt telescope – its high-quality corrective optics enabled astronomers to photograph large areas of the sky using very large wide-angled cameras. 80 3 Dec 1935 Death of Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom. Daughter of King Edward VII. Sister of King George V. 80 4 Dec 1935 Birth of Robert Vesco, notorious American financier and fugitive. Involved in several financial/political scandals of the 1970s. (Died 2007.) www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 218 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 80 4 Dec 1935 Death of Charles Richet, French physiologist. Noted for his work on allergic reactions. Winner of the 1913 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovering anaphylaxis. He also studied paranormal phenomena from a scientific perspective. 80 5 Dec 1935 The world’s first commercial-scale hydroponic plant culture operation was established in Montebello, California, USA. 80 5 Dec 1935 The National Council of Negro Women was founded in the USA. 80 6 Dec 1935 Michael Savage became the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand. 80 8 Dec 1935 The Second Oomoto Incident, Japan. Japanese military police launched a violent suppression of the Oomoto religious sect, which it accused of worshipping figures other than Amaterasu (a major Shinto deity from whom the Emperor of Japan is said to be descended). 80 12 Dec 1935 The Lebensborn project was established in Germany to counteract falling birth rates and promote Nazi eugenics. 80 13 Dec 1935 Death of Victor Grignard, French chemist. Joint winner of the 1912 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for developing the Grignard reaction – a form of organometallic reaction that opened up a broad area of organic synthesis. 80 14 Dec 1935 Thomas Masaryk, the founder and first president of Czechoslovakia, resigned due to ill health. He was succeeded by Edvard Beneš on 18th. 80 14 Dec 1935 Birth of Lee Remick, American film and television actress (Anatomy of a Murder, Days of Wine and Roses, The Omen, and more). (Died 1991.) 80 17 Dec 1935 The Douglas DC-3 airliner made its first flight. 80 17 Dec 1935 Death of Juan Vicente Gómez, president/dictator of Venezuela (1908–35). 80 18 Dec 1935 The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (meaning: Lanka Equal Society Party) was founded in Sri Lanka. 80 20 Dec 1935 Death of Martin O’Meara, Irish-born Australian soldier. Recipient of the Victoria Cross for rescuing wounded colleagues and transporting ammunition while under fire. He suffered from insanity after WWI. 80 21 Dec 1935 Birth of Yusuf Bey, American Black Muslim activist and baker. (Died 2003.) 80 21 Dec 1935 Death of Kurt Tucholsky, German journalist, writer, satirist, songwriter and poet. Stripped of his German citizenship by the Nazis, who burned his books. (Suicide?) 80 24 Dec 1935 Death of Alban Berg, Austrian composer. Noted for his atonal and 12-tone compositions and the operas Wozzeck and Lulu. 80 25 Dec 1935 Death of Paul Bourget, French novelist and critic. Known for his psychological novels. 80 28 Dec 1935 Death of Clarence Day, American writer and essayist. Best known for his autobiographical work Life with Father. 80 30 Dec 1935 Birth of Omar Bongo, President of Gabon (1967–2009). 75 1 Dec 1940 Birth of Richard Pryor, award-winning American stand-up comedian and film actor. (Died 2005.)

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Ann. Date Event 75 4 Dec 1940 Birth of Gary Gilmore, American criminal. (Executed in 1977 – the first person in the USA to be executed following the reinstatement of the death penalty.) 75 7 Dec 1940 Britain’s Fairey Barracuda bomber made its first flight. 75 8 Dec 1940 World War II – the Blitz: the Cloisters of the Houses of Parliament in London were destroyed by a German bomb. (Parliament suffered its worst bombing of the war in May 1941.) 75 9 Dec 1940 World War II – Western Desert Campaign – Operation Compass. – 9 Feb 1941 The first major Allied military operation in the Campaign. Allied victory. The first battle was the Battle of Sidi Barrani (Egypt, 9th – 10th Dec). 75 12 Dec 1940 World War II – the Sheffield Blitz, UK. The city of Sheffield, famous for its (and 15th) steel industry, was devastated by German bombs. More than 660 people were killed, 1,500 injured, and 40,000 made homeless. 75 16 Dec 1940 World War II: the British RAF bombed the city of Mannheim in the first deliberate terror raid on Germany. (The raid was not particularly successful as the bombing was off-target. The largest raid on Mannheim was in Sept 1943, when much of the city was destroyed.) 75 16 Dec 1940 Death of Eugène Dubois, Dutch geologist and anthropologist. Best known for discovering ‘Java Man’ – the first known fossil of Homo erectus. 75 19 Dec 1940 Birth of Phil Ochs, American folk singer and songwriter. Best known for his protest songs. (Died 1976.) 75 21 Dec 1940 Birth of Frank Zappa, prolific American rock/experimental/jazz/classical musician, singer, composer and film director. (Died 1993.) 75 21 Dec 1940 Death of F. Scott Fitzgerald, American novelist and short story writer. Considered one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Best known for his novel The Great Gatsby. 75 22 Dec 1940 Death of Nathanael West, American satirical novelist and screenwriter. Best known for his novels Miss Lonelyhearts and The Day of the Locust. 75 25 Dec 1940 The musical Pal Joey by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart premièred on Broadway. 75 29 Dec 1940 World War II: Germany dropped thousands of incendiary bombs and high explosives on the City of London, causing the worst fire damage since the Great Fire of 1666. 75 30 Dec 1940 The Arroyo Seco Parkway (also known as the Pasadena Freeway) was officially opened in California, USA. It is considered the first true freeway in the USA – though narrow by modern standards. 75 30 Dec 1940 Death of Childe Wills, American engineer and businessman. One of the first employees of the Ford Motor Company. Contributed to the design of the Model T. Founded the (unsuccessful) Wills Sainte Claire car company. 70 Dec 1945 Ballpoint pens were launched in the UK by the Miles-Martin Pen Company. 70 4 Dec 1945 The U.S. Senate approved U.S. participation in the United Nations. (It passed the United Nations Participation Act on 20th Dec. The USA was a founding member when the UN was formed on 24th Oct 1945.)

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Ann. Date Event 70 4 Dec 1945 Death of Thomas Hunt Morgan, American evolutionary biologist who played a key role in establishing the field of genetics. Noted for his experimental research on the fruit fly, which established the role of the chromosome in heredity. Winner of the 1933 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. 70 5 Dec 1945 Flight 19, a squadron of five U.S. Navy bombers, disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle during a training flight. 70 11 Dec 1945 Death of Charles Fabry, French physicist who discovered the Earth’s ozone layer. 70 12 Dec 1945 Birth of Tony Williams, innovative American jazz drummer. 70 13 Dec 1945 Death of Josef Kramer, (‘the Beast of Belsen’), German Nazi concentration camp commandant. (Executed along with 10 other concentration camp staff who were found guilty of the ill treatment of inmates.) 70 15 Dec 1945 The Allied occupying authorities in Japan issued the Shinto Directive which abolished state support for the Shinto religion. 70 16 Dec 1945 Death of Giovanni Agnelli, Italian industrialist who founded the Fiat car company. 70 16 Dec 1945 Death of Fumimaro Konoye (also spelled Konoe), Prime Minister of Japan (1937–39, 1940–41). 70 20 Dec 1945 Leopold Figl became Chancellor of Austria.

70 21 Dec 1945 Death of George S. Patton, U.S. Army general who commanded the 3rd and 7th U.S. Armies in Europe during WWII. A highly regarded tank commander. (Car crash in Germany.) 70 22 Dec 1945 Death of Otto Neurath, Austrian-born sociologist, philosopher of science and political economist. 70 25 Dec 1945 Birth of Noel Redding, British bass guitarist (the Jimi Hendrix Experience). (Died 2003.) 70 27 Dec 1945 The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development were formally founded. (They had been created at the Bretton Woods Conference in July 1944.) 70 28 Dec 1945 The U.S. Congress formally recognised the Pledge of Allegiance. (It was written in 1892. Before 1945 it was known as the Pledge to the Flag. It was last revised in 1954 when the words ‘under God’ were added.) 70 28 Dec 1945 Birth of Birendra, King of Nepal (1972–2001 – shot dead by his son, Crown Prince Dipendra, who also shot himself and died 3 days later). 70 28 Dec 1945 Death of Theodore Dreiser, American novelist. A leading exponent of Naturalism in fiction. Known for Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy. 65 5 Dec 1950 Korean War: the North Koreans and their Chinese allies recaptured the North Korean capital Pyongyang from UN forces. 65 5 Dec 1950 Sikkim became a protectorate of India. (It became an Indian state in 1975.) 65 10 Dec 1950 Dr. Ralph Bunche became the first African American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, for his efforts to mediate between Israel and nearby Arab states.

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Ann. Date Event 65 11 Dec 1950 Birth of Christina Onassis, American heiress and businesswoman. Daughter of the shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. (Died 1988.) 65 12 Dec 1950 Paula Ackerman was appointed interim spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel in Meridian, Mississippi, USA following the death of her husband who was the rabbi there. She was the first woman in the USA to perform rabbinical functions, and continued in the role for 3 years. 65 13 Dec 1950 American actor James Dean made his first television appearance, in a commercial for Pepsi Cola. 65 14 Dec 1950 The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (also known as the UN Refugee Agency) was established. 65 16 Dec 1950 U.S. President Harry S. Truman declared a national state of emergency in order to fight ‘Communist imperialism’ after China entered the Korean War. 65 19 Dec 1950 General Dwight D. Eisenhower (later U.S. President) was appointed NATO’s first Supreme Commander, with responsibility for the allied forces in Europe. (In post from 2nd April 1951.) 65 25 Dec 1950 The Stone of Scone, the coronation stone of British monarchs, was taken from Westminster Abbey in London by 4 Scottish students, who transported it to Scotland – but broke it. (It was later returned to London and used in the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Since 1996 it has been kept in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, with the agreement that it will be transported to Westminster Abbey when needed for coronations.) 60 1 Dec 1955 African American civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, violating the city’s racial segregation laws. This incident led to the Montgomery bus boycott (5th Dec 1955 – 20th Dec 1956) and the birth of the modern American civil rights movement. 60 3 Dec 1955 Death of Cow Cow Davenport, American boogie-woogie/blues pianist, organist, singer and Vaudeville entertainer. 60 4 Dec 1955 The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO – the largest federation of trade unions in the USA. 60 4 Dec 1955 Death of Glenn L. Martin, American aviation pioneer and manufacturer whose aircraft company is now part of Lockheed Martin. 60 6 Dec 1955 Death of Honus Wagner, (‘the Flying Dutchman‘), American baseball player. One of the first 5 members inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 60 8 Dec 1955 Death of Hermann Weyl, important German-born mathematician and theoretical physicist who made major contributions to several fields including quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity. 60 13 Dec 1955 Death of (António) Egas Moniz, Portuguese neurosurgeon. The founder of modern psychosurgery. Joint winner of the 1949 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for developing the prefrontal lobotomy as a therapy for certain psychoses and mental disorders. 60 15 Dec 1955 The Tappan Zee Bridge, the longest bridge in the state of New York, USA, opened.

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Ann. Date Event 60 15 Dec 1955 Jens Olsen’s World Clock was officially started by Danish King Frederick IX at Copenhagen City Hall, Denmark. The advanced astronomical clock has more than 14,000 parts and took over 10 years to build. 60 16 Dec 1955 The Queen’s Building at London Airport was officially opened. (The airport was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1965 and the Queen’s Building became part of Terminal 2 – replaced by a new Terminal 2 in June 2014.) 60 20 Dec 1955 Cardiff was proclaimed the capital city of Wales. 60 24 Dec 1955 The NORAD Tracks Santa service was launched. It began by accident when a Sears department store advertisement invited children to phone Santa Claus but gave the wrong number. Calls went to NORAD instead, where staff gave Santa’s ‘current location’ so as not to disappoint callers. 60 27 Dec 1955 Death of Alfred Carpenter, British Royal Navy officer. Recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Zeebrugge Raid in WWI. 50 1 Dec 1965 India’s Border Security Force was established. 50 3 Dec 1965 The Soviet Union launched its Luna 8 space probe. It was meant to achieve a soft landing on the Moon but crashed there on 6th Dec when a retro- rocket fired too late. 50 3 Dec 1965 The album Rubber Soul by The Beatles was released. 50 4 Dec 1965 The USA launched its Gemini 7 manned spacecraft. Its two astronauts Frank Borman and James A. Lovell remained in space for almost 14 days and achieved the first manned space rendezvous with Gemini 6A on 15th Dec. The two craft manoeuvred to within 12 inches (30 cm) of each other. 50 4 Dec 1965 The American rock band the Grateful Dead played their first official concert, in San Francisco, California. (They actually played their first concert in May 1965, but at that time they were known as the Warlocks.) 50 5 Dec 1965 Death of Joseph Erlanger, American physiologist. Joint winner of the 1944 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovering different types/functions of nerve fibres in a single cord. 50 7 Dec 1965 Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I withdrew the mutual excommunication that had existed between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches since 1054. 50 8 Dec 1965 The Second Vatican Council ended. 50 8 Dec 1965 The Race Relations Act (1965) went into effect in the UK. It banned racial discrimination in public places. 50 9 Dec 1965 Nikolai Podgorny became leader of the Soviet Union. 50 9 Dec 1965 Kecksburg UFO incident, Pennsylvania, USA. A large, bright fireball was seen from 6 U.S. states and was reported to have crashed in woods near Pittsburgh. (Numerous theories and conspiracy theories have been put forward.) 50 9 Dec 1965 The animated television special A Charlie Brown Christmas was first broadcast in the USA. It was based on Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip and continues to be broadcast annually. 50 9 Dec 1965 Death of Branch Rickey, American baseball executive who developed the farm system for training players and broke the colour barrier by hiring the first black players. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 223 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 50 10 Dec 1965 Death of Henry Cowell, innovative American composer, pianist, music theorist and teacher. 50 12 Dec 1965 The Beatles’ last tour of Britain ended with two performances at the Capitol Theatre in Cardiff, Wales. (They played 2 more concerts in Britain, at the Empire Pool (now Wembley Arena) in London in May 1966 and their final live performance on the roof of Apple Records’ headquarters in Jan 1969.) 50 15 Dec 1965 Zeeland Bridge, the longest bridge in the Netherlands, was officially opened. 50 16 Dec 1965 NASA launched its Pioneer 6 space probe to measure solar wind, the solar magnetic field and cosmic rays. It remained in operation until 1995. 50 16 Dec 1965 Death of W. Somerset Maugham, prolific British novelist, short story writer and playwright. One of the most popular writers of his era. Best known for his novels Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, Cakes and Ale and The Razor’s Edge. 50 16 Dec 1965 Death of Queen Salote Tupou III of Tonga. Succeeded by her son Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. 50 22 Dec 1965 A maximum speed limit of 70 mph was introduced on previously unrestricted roads in Britain. (The limit was introduced on a trial basis but was made permanent in July 1967.)

50 22 Dec 1965 The U.S. première of the film Dr. Zhivago. (UK: 26th April 1966.) 50 22 Dec 1965 Death of Richard Dimbleby, pioneering British journalist and radio/television broadcaster. The BBC’s first war correspondent. One of the greatest figures in British broadcasting history. Father of the television presenters David Dimbleby and Jonathan Dimbleby. 50 22 Dec 1965 Death of Al Ritz, American singer, dancer, comedian and actor (the Ritz Brothers). 50 24 Dec 1965 The Barwell meteorite. Two villages in Leicestershire, England were showered with thousands of fragments from a meteorite, the largest weighing about 2 pounds (1 kg). No one was hurt. 50 25 Dec 1965 The Nasserite Unionist People’s Organisation was founded in Yemen. 50 27 Dec 1965 Sea Gem oil rig disaster, North Sea. Britain’s first-ever oil rig capsized due to metal fatigue after being moved to a new site. 13 crew were killed. 50 27 Dec 1965 Birth of Chris Mainwaring, Australian rules footballer and TV/radio sports presenter. (Died 2007.) 50 27 Dec 1965 Death of Edgar Ende, German Surrealist artist. Father of the children’s writer Michael Ende. 50 30 Dec 1965 Ferdinand Marcos became President of the Philippines. 40 1 Dec 1975 Lambda Theta Phi, the first officially recognised Latino fraternity, was established at Kean College, Union, New Jersey, USA. 40 2 Dec 1975 The communist political group Pathet Lao seized power in Laos, abolished the monarchy, and established the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

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Ann. Date Event 40 4 Dec 1975 Death of Hannah Arendt, German-born American political theorist. Known for her works on Jewish affairs, direct democracy, authority and totalitarianism. 40 6 Dec 1975 Balcombe Street siege, Marylebone, London. 4 members of the IRA (to 12th) entered an apartment while fleeing from the police, and took the 2 residents hostage. The 6-day stand-off ended after police broadcast false information via the BBC to make the gang surrender. 40 7 Dec 1975 East Timor was invaded and annexed by Indonesia, little more than a – 17 Jul 1976 week after declaring its independence from Portugal. 40 7 Dec 1975 Death of Thornton Wilder, Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright and novelist. Best known for his plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth, and his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey. 40 9 Dec 1975 Death of William Wellman, American film director (Wings, Public Enemy, A Star Is Born, Beau Geste, The Ox-Bow Incident, The High and the Mighty, and more). 40 10 Dec 1975 Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his struggle for human rights, disarmament, and cooperation between nations. (The award was accepted by his wife Yelena, as the Soviet Union refused to allow him to travel to Norway to receive it.) 40 11 Dec 1975 Third Cod War: one of the most serious incidents of the Cod Wars occurred when an Icelandic ship opened fire on 3 unarmed British tug- boats. No one was hurt. 40 16 Dec 1975 The first episode of the sitcom One Day at a Time was broadcast on CBS TV in the USA. (It ran for 9 years until 1984.) 40 17 Dec 1975 Robert Muldoon became Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of New Zealand – the last person to hold both roles simultaneously. 40 17 Dec 1975 Death of Noble Sissle, American jazz composer, singer, lyricist and bandleader. Best known for his work with pianist and composer Eubie Blake, most notably on the musical comedy Shuffle Along. 40 18 Dec 1975 Death of Theodosius Dobzhansky, Ukrainian-born American geneticist and evolutionary biologist. Noted for his influential work on genetics and evolutionary theory, and for his book Genetics and the Origin of Species. 40 20 Dec 1975 Death of William Lundigan, American film and television actor (Dodge City, The Fighting 69th, Santa Fe Trail, The House on Telegraph Hill, Inferno). 40 21 Dec 1975 OPEC siege, Vienna, Austria. 6 militants led by Ilich Ramírez Sánchez (‘Carlos the Jackal’) stormed an OPEC meeting, calling for the liberation of Palestine. They took 60 people hostage, and killed 3 of them. The remaining hostages were released unharmed on 22nd. 40 23 Dec 1975 The Metric Conversion Act was signed into law in the USA. It declared the metric system to be the preferred system of measurement in business, but permitted the use of customary units of measurement in non-business activities. 40 24 Dec 1975 Death of Bernard Herrmann, American film composer (Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, Citizen Kane, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Cape Fear, Taxi Driver, The Twilight Zone [TV series], and many more). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 225 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 40 25 Dec 1975 Death of Gaston Gallimard, French publisher. Co-founder of Librairie Gallimard – the leading French publishing house of the 20th century. 40 27 Dec 1975 Chasnala mining disaster, Jharkhand, India. An explosion caused the roof of the mine to collapse, and it flooded with water. 372 miners were killed. 40 27 Dec 1975 Birth of Heather O’Rourke, American child actress. Best known for her role as Carol Anne in the Poltergeist film series. (Died 1988.) 40 29 Dec 1975 LaGuardia Airport bombing, New York City, USA. 11 people were killed and 74 injured when a bomb exploded near the TWA baggage reclaim terminal. The perpetrators and motive are currently unknown. 40 29 Dec 1975 The Sex Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act came into effect in the UK, preventing women from being paid less than their male counterparts. 30 2 Dec 1985 The musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes opened on Broadway. It is based on an unfinished novel by Charles Dickens. 30 2 Dec 1985 Death of Philip Larkin, British poet, librarian and jazz critic. 30 7 Dec 1985 Death of Robert Graves, award-winning British poet, novelist, critic, translator and classical scholar. Known for his historical novel I, Claudius, his WWI memoir Good-Bye to All That and his scholarly work The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetic Myth. 30 7 Dec 1985 Death of Potter Stewart, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1958–81). 30 12 Dec 1985 Arrow Air Flight 1285 crashed shortly after taking off from Newfoundland, Canada. All 248 passengers and 8 crew were killed. The passengers were all members of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division who were returning from a 6-month peacekeeping mission in Sinai. 30 12 Dec 1985 Death of Ian Stewart, Scottish keyboard player and road manager. Co-founder of the Rolling Stones. 30 14 Dec 1985 Wilma Mankiller became the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma – the first woman to lead a major American Indian tribe. 30 14 Dec 1985 Death of Roger Maris, record-breaking American baseball player. 30 16 Dec 1985 Mafia mobsters Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti were shot dead in a gangland slaying in New York City, USA. 30 19 Dec 1985 Mary Lund of Kensington, Minnesota, USA became the first woman to receive an artificial heart. (She received a human heart transplant 45 days later, but died in Oct 1986.) 30 26 Dec 1985 Death of Dian Fossey, American zoologist. The world’s leading authority (or 27th?) on mountain gorillas. (Murdered in Rwanda, case unsolved – poachers?) 30 27 Dec 1985 Palestinian guerrillas mounted twin terrorist attacks at Rome (Italy) and Vienna (Austria) airports, shooting 18 people dead and injuring 120. 30 31 Dec 1985 Death of Ricky Nelson, American rock and roll/rockabilly/pop singer, songwriter, musician and actor. (Plane crash.) 30 31 Dec 1985 Death of Sam Spiegel, Academy Award-winning Austrian-born American film producer (The African Queen, On the Waterfront, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Suddenly Last Summer, Lawrence of Arabia, and more).

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Ann. Date Event 25 1 Dec 1990 Construction workers on the Channel Tunnel broke through the last wall of rock separating the two halves, and Britain and France were linked for the first time in thousands of years. 25 2 Dec 1990 West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl was elected Chancellor of Germany. (He had been acting-Chancellor since reunification on 3rd Oct.) 25 2 Dec 1990 Death of Aaron Copland, American composer. 25 2 Dec 1990 Death of Robert (also known as Bob) Cummings, American film and television actor. Best known for the films Saboteur, Dial M for Murder and Princess O’Rourke, and for the TV series The Bob Cummings Show. 25 6 Dec 1990 Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announced the release of all foreign hostages held in Iraq and occupied Kuwait since August. 25 6 Dec 1990 Death of Tunku Abdul Rahman, first Prime Minister of Malaya (1957–63), first Prime Minister of Malaysia (1963–70). 25 7 Dec 1990 A week of Hindu-Muslim violence and rioting began in several Indian cities, resulting in about 300 deaths and 3,000 arrests. (Rioting broke out again a month later.) 25 7 Dec 1990 Death of Joan Bennett, American stage, film and television actress. Best known for her leading roles in Fritz Lang’s film noir movies including The Woman in the Window and Scarlet Street. 25 8 Dec 1990 Death of Martin Ritt, American stage and film director (Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man, The Long, Hot Summer, Hud, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Norma Rae). Blacklisted as a Communist in the 1950s. 25 10 Dec 1990 International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 25 10 Dec 1990 Death of Armand Hammer, American businessman, art collector and philanthropist. Chairman of Occidental Petroleum Corporation. 25 13 Dec 1990 Death of Alice Marble, American tennis player. World number 1 in the late 1930s. 25 14 Dec 1990 African National Congress (ANC) president Oliver Tambo returned to South Africa after 30 years in exile. 25 14 Dec 1990 The musical Five Guys Named Moe by Louis Jordan was first performed, in London. 25 14 Dec 1990 Death of Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Swiss satirical playwright, crime novelist and essayist. 25 18 Dec 1990 Death of Anne Revere, American stage, film and television actress (National Velvet, The Song of Bernadette, Gentleman’s Agreement, and more). Blacklisted by the movie industry during the 1950s. 25 20 Dec 1990 Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in protest against the growing influence of anti-reform members of Mikhail Gorbachev’s government. 25 21 Dec 1990 Death of Kelly Johnson, innovative American aeronautical engineer and designer. Known for his work with Lockheed Martin, most notably as team leader of the ‘Skunk Works’ secret development unit, which produced many important military aircraft. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 227 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 25 22 Dec 1990 Lech Walesa, leader of the once-outlawed Solidarity trade union movement, became President of Poland. 25 22 Dec 1990 The Marshall Islands became fully independent from the USA. 25 22 Dec 1990 The current Constitution of Croatia was adopted. 25 23 Dec 1990 Elections in Yugoslavia ended, with 4 of its 6 republics now having non- Communist governments. 25 23 Dec 1990 In a referendum, the citizens of Slovenia voted in favour of independence from Yugoslavia. (Independence was declared on 25th June 1991.) 25 25 Dec 1990 The first successful trial run of the system that would become the World Wide Web was completed at CERN in Switzerland. 25 31 Dec 1990 Death of George Allen, American football coach. NFL Coach of the Year (1967, 1971). 25 31 Dec 1990 Death of Vasili Lazarev, Soviet cosmonaut. Hero of the Soviet Union. 20 2 Dec 1995 British ‘rogue trader’ Nick Leeson was jailed for 6.5 years in Singapore for fraudulent financial dealings which led to the fall of Barings Bank. 20 2 Dec 1995 Death of Robertson Davies, Canadian novelist, playwright and educator. One of Canada’s best-known and most popular authors. 20 3 Dec 1995 Death of Jimmy Jewel, British stage, radio, TV and film comedian and actor. Known for his double-act with Ben Warriss. He also starred in the sitcom Nearest and Dearest and many other TV episodes. 20 4 Dec 1995 Bosnian War: the first NATO troops landed in Sarajevo to begin setting up a peace mission. Peacekeeping operations began on 20th. 20 4 Dec 1995 Death of Robert Parrish, award-winning American film director and editor (Casino Royale, Body and Soul, Cry Danger, The Purple Plain). 20 5 Dec 1995 Death of Victor Matthews, Baron Matthews, British businessman. Group Managing Director/Deputy Chairman of Trafalgar House, a business empire which included the Cunard Line shipping company, the Ritz Hotel in London, and Express Newspapers. 20 6 Dec 1995 Death of James (‘Scotty’) Reston, Pulitzer Prize-winning Scottish-born American journalist, editor and newspaper executive. Known for his 50- year career with The New York Times. 20 7 Dec 1995 NASA’s Galileo spacecraft reached Jupiter after a 6-year journey. It released a probe into the planet’s atmosphere, which sent back data on its structure and composition before being destroyed by the pressure. 20 8 Dec 1995 Head teacher Philip Lawrence was stabbed to death outside his west London school while trying to protect a student who was being assaulted by a gang of youths. 20 9 Dec 1995 Death of Toni Cade Bambara, American novelist, short story writer, activist and teacher. Known for her affectionate portrayals of the African American community. An active member of the black liberation and women’s movements. 20 9 Dec 1995 Death of Vivian Blaine, American stage and film actress. Best known for her role as Miss Adelaide in the original Broadway production and film version of the musical Guys & Dolls. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 228 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 9 Dec 1995 Death of Douglas ‘Wrong Way’ Corrigan, American aviator and folk hero who famously made a solo flight across the Atlantic ‘by accident’ when his request to do so was turned down by aviation authorities. (He filed a flight plan for a trip from New York to California but flew in the opposite direction and landed in Ireland, claiming he had misread his compass.) 20 11 Dec 1995 Death of Arthur Mullard, British film and television comedy actor. A well-known figure in British comedy films and sitcoms of the 1960s – 70s 20 12 Dec 1995 Death of David Marshall, first Chief Minister of Singapore (1955–56). 20 13 Dec 1995 Brixton riot, south London, UK. Hundreds of youths rioted on the streets of Brixton following the death of a black man in police custody. 20 14 Dec 1995 The Bosnian War ended with the ratification of the Dayton Accords in Paris, France. (The war had begun in April 1992.) 20 15 Dec 1995 The European Council announced that the new European currency would be called the euro. 20 15 Dec 1995 Death of Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado, Spanish politician. Deputy Prime Minister (1976–81), Minister of Defence (1977–79). Noted for resisting an attempted military coup in 1981 and reorganising the military to serve a civilian government under King Juan Carlos. 20 18 Dec 1995 Death of Konrad Zuse, German engineer who built the world’s first digital computer. 20 19 Dec 1995 Death of Dame Nita Barrow, the first woman Governor-General of Barbados (1990–95). 20 20 Dec 1995 Bosnian War – Operation Joint Endeavour. A NATO-led international peacekeeping force known as Implementation Force (IFOR) began operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina, remaining there for a year. 20 20 Dec 1995 Queen Elizabeth II urged the Prince and Princess of Wales (Charles and Diana) to seek an early divorce. 20 21 Dec 1995 The city of Bethlehem passed from Israeli to Palestinian control. On 26th December Israel also passed dozens of West Bank villages over to the Palestinian Authority. 20 21 Dec 1995 Death of Sir Trenchard Cox, British museum director (Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum). 20 22 Dec 1995 Death of Thelma (‘Butterfly’) McQueen, American film and television actress. Best known for her role as Prissy, Scarlett O’Hara’s maid, in Gone with the Wind. 20 22 Dec 1995 Death of James Meade, British economist. Joint winner of the 1977 Nobel Prize for Economics for his work on the theory of international trade and capital movements. 20 23 Dec 1995 Dabwali fire, India. Between 400 and 540 people were killed (including 170 children) when tent fabric caught fire during an end-of-year school function at the Rajiv Marriage Palace. 20 23 Dec 1995 The charred remains of 16 members of the Solar Temple religious cult were found in a clearing near Grenoble, France following a mass suicide. 20 23 Dec 1995 Aleksander Kwasniewski became President of Poland after defeating Lech Walesa in the presidential election. www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 229 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 20 25 Dec 1995 Death of Emmanuel Levinas, Lithuanian-born French philosopher. Known for his works on existential phenomenology, ethics and ontology. 20 25 Dec 1995 Death of Dean Martin, American singer, film actor, comedian and TV host. Known for his partnership with Jerry Lewis as well as for his solo work. One of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century. A member of the Rat Pack. 20 25 Dec 1995 Death of Nicolas Slonimsky, Russian-born American musicologist, composer and conductor who wrote several important music reference books, including the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns and the Lexicon of Musical Invective. He also edited Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. 20 27 Dec 1995 Death of Shura Cherkassky, Ukrainian-born American classical pianist. Best known for his performances of Romantic music. 20 28 Dec 1995 Death of Madeleine Barot, French resistance activist and theologian. 20 29 Dec 1995 Death of Nello Celio, President of Switzerland (1972). 20 29 Dec 1995 Death of Lita Grey, American actress. Second wife of Charlie Chaplin who married her to avoid a scandal when she became pregnant at 16. 20 30 Dec 1995 Death of Doris Grau, American script supervisor, actress and voice actress. Best known as the voice of Lunchlady Doris in the animated TV series The Simpsons. 20 30 Dec 1995 Death of Heiner Müller, German playwright, poet and theatre director. One of the most important German dramatists of the 20th century. 20 31 Dec 1995 The comic strip Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson ended after 10 years. (It continues in newspapers worldwide as reruns.) 15 1 Dec 2000 Vicente Fox became President of Mexico. 15 10 Dec 2000 Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced his resignation. This triggered an election, held on 6th Feb 2001, in which he was defeated by Ariel Sharon. 15 13 Dec 2000 George W. Bush finally claimed the U.S. presidency, 36 days after the election was held. (Result was delayed due to disputed votes in Florida.) 15 16 Dec 2000 President-elect George W. Bush chose Colin Powell as the first African American secretary of state. 15 19 Dec 2000 The UN Security Council imposed a 12-month arms embargo on Taliban- controlled Afghanistan and extended financial sanctions imposed in Oct 1999 to cover Osama bin Laden and the militant organisation Al-Qaeda. 15 28 Dec 2000 U.S. retail giant Montgomery Ward went out of business after 128 years and closed all of its stores. 15 30 Dec 2000 Rizal Day Bombings, Metro Manila, Philippines. Islamist terrorists detonated a series of bombs, killing 22 people and injuring over 100.

10 1 Dec 2005 Same-sex marriage was legalised in South Africa (from 30th Nov 2006). 10 1 Dec 2005 Death of Mary Hayley Bell, Chinese-born British stage actress, playwright and novelist. Wife of the actor Sir John Mills. Best known for her novel Whistle Down the Wind (later adapted into a film which starred her daughter Hayley Mills, and a stage musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber). www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 230 The Date-A-Base Book 2015

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Ann. Date Event 10 4 Dec 2005 More than 60,000 people took part in a democracy protest in Hong Kong, calling on the Government to allow universal suffrage. 10 4 Dec 2005 Death of Gregg Hoffman, American film producer (Saw, Saw II). 10 5 Dec 2005 Lake Tanganyika earthquake, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2 people were killed and dozens of houses collapsed. 10 5 Dec 2005 The first same-sex civil partnership in Britain was formed in Worthing, West Sussex. The Civil Partnership Act was not due to come into effect until 19th Dec, but an exception was made in this case as one of the partners was terminally ill. (He died the following day.) 10 5 Dec 2005 Death of Frits Philips, Dutch industrialist. President and CEO of Philips Electronics (1961–71). 10 6 Dec 2005 British politician David Cameron became leader of the Conservative Party. (He became Prime Minister in May 2010.) 10 6 Dec 2005 Death of Charly Gaul, (the ‘angel of the mountains’), Luxembourg cyclist. Winner of the 1958 Tour de France. 10 6 Dec 2005 Death of Devan Nair, President of Singapore (1981–85). 10 6 Dec 2005 Death of William P. Yarborough, American Army officer. Known as the ‘Father of the Modern Green Berets’. He designed the U.S. Army’s parachutist badge, jump boots and uniform. 10 9 Dec 2005 Death of György Sándor, Hungarian-born American pianist. Noted for his performances of works by East European composers, particularly Bela Bartok, whose work he sometimes premièred. 10 9 Dec 2005 Death of Robert Sheckley, American science fiction novelist and short story writer whose work is noted for its dark humour. 10 10 Dec 2005 Death of Eugene McCarthy, American politician, Congressman/Senator from Minnesota (1949–71). An outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War. Sought presidential nomination several times, most notably in 1968 when he influenced President Lyndon B. Johnson to drop his bid for re-election. 10 10 Dec 2005 Death of Richard Pryor, award-winning American stand-up comedian and film actor. 10 11 Dec 2005 Buncefield Oil Depot fire, Hertfordshire, UK. An oil storage tank exploded when an unconfined vapour cloud ignited, causing nearby tanks to explode. 43 people were injured. The explosion was heard in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. 10 11 Dec 2005 Cronulla riots, Sydney, Australia. Thousands of people gathered on the beach to protest against ethnic attacks on local people. The gathering turned into a riot, with retaliatory riots taking place on subsequent nights. 10 13 Dec 2005 U.S. President George W. Bush admitted that much of the intelligence used as a basis for invading Iraq had been wrong. But he defended the invasion because it had led to the removal of Saddam Hussein. 10 15 Dec 2005 A (mostly peaceful) general election was held in Iraq. Incumbent Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari’s United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) won the most seats (128) but failed to reach a majority (138). A coalition government led by Nouri al-Maliki took office on 20th May 2006.

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Ann. Date Event 10 15 Dec 2005 Latvia amended its constitution to ensure that same-sex couples could not marry. 10 15 Dec 2005 Death of Stan Leonard, Canadian golfer. 10 15 Dec 2005 Death of William Proxmire, American politician, Senator from Wisconsin. Known for his annual Golden Fleece Award which highlighted wasteful government spending. He halted numerous scientific projects that were (in his opinion) of little value, and infamously withdrew NASA’s budget for research into space colonisation. 10 16 Dec 2005 Death of John Spencer, Emmy Award-winning American stage and television actor. Best known for his role as White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry in the political drama series The West Wing. 10 17 Dec 2005 U.S. President George W. Bush acknowledged the existence of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Terrorist Surveillance Program, which monitored certain international communications. The Attorney General later revealed that other intelligence-gathering operations (collectively known as the President’s Surveillance Program) had been authorised by the President as part of the same package, but details remained classified. 10 17 Dec 2005 Death of Jack Anderson, Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist. Regarded as one of the fathers of modern investigative journalism. Known for his column Washington Merry-Go-Round which exposed political corruption in Washington, D.C. 10 18 Dec 2005 The Chadian Civil War. Chadian Government victory. The war began – 15 Jan 2010 when Chadian rebels (allegedly supported by Sudan) attacked the border town of Adré, killing about 100 people. The rebels were eventually repulsed by Chadian Government forces (aided by France). 10 19 Dec 2005 Afghanistan’s first elected parliament since 1973 convened in Kabul. 10 19 Dec 2005 The Civil Partnership Act came into effect in the UK. The first civil partnership under the act was formed in Belfast, Northern Ireland that day. The first in Scotland was on 20th December, and the first in England and Wales were on 21st December. (See also 5th December above.) 10 19 Dec 2005 Death of Keith Duckworth, British mechanical engineer who designed the Cosworth DFV engine which revolutionised Formula One racing. 10 20 Dec 2005 Death of Maniam Moorthy, Malaysian Army officer. A member of the first Malaysian team to successfully climb Mount Everest. 10 22 Dec 2005 NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope discovered two new moons and a second ring system around the planet Uranus. 10 25 Dec 2005 Death of Derek Bailey, British jazz/avant-garde guitar virtuoso. Known as the guru of free improvisation. 10 25 Dec 2005 Death of Birgit Nilsson, Swedish operatic soprano. 10 26 Dec 2005 Death of Kerry Packer, Australian media magnate and creator of World Series Cricket. The richest man in Australia at the time of his death. 10 27 Dec 2005 The Free Aceh Movement in Indonesia abolished its 30-year armed struggle for independence, disbanded its military wing, and confirmed its commitment to peace.

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Ann. Date Event 10 28 Dec 2005 Enron Corp’s Chief Accounting Officer, Richard Causey, changed his plea to guilty in the Enron corruption scandal. He agreed to testify against Chairman Kenneth Lay and CEO Jeffrey Skilling in exchange for a reduced prison sentence (which he served from Jan 2007 to Oct 2011). 10 31 Dec 2005 SBC Communications acquired its former parent company AT&T for $16 billion and took on AT&T’s name and branding. (SBC was formerly Southwestern Bell Corporation – one of the 7 regional Bell companies formed in 1983 when AT&T was split up following an antitrust lawsuit.) 10 31 Dec 2005 Death of Enrico di Giuseppe, American operatic tenor.

ADDENDA

Ann. Date Event 200 20 May 1815 The Second Barbary War. American victory which led to the end of piracy (to 3rd Jul) by north African states in the Mediterranean Sea. 125 14 Jun 1890 Zanzibar became a British protectorate. 100 23 Jun 1915 World War I – the First Battle of the Isonzo (Slovenia). (to 7th Jul) Austria-Hungarian victory – the Italian offensive was repulsed. 90 21 Jul 1925 The Great Syrian Revolt. French victory. (to Jun 1927) 80 22 Sep 1935 The rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was established. 65 22 May 1950 American chemist Harry Gold was arrested by the FBI and confessed to being a courier who had passed nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union on behalf of several espionage rings. His interrogation and testimony led to the arrest and conviction of spies including Klaus Fuchs, David Greenglass, and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. (He was jailed for 30 years.)

www.ideas4writers.co.uk © ideas4writers 2014 233 About the authors

Dave and Kate Haslett are the husband and wife team behind ideas4writers, the ideas and inspiration website. Dave looks after the creative and technical bits, and Kate looks after the administration. They have two daughters and live in Devon, England.

The Date-A-Base Book

If you or your friends or colleagues would like to order further copies of this book, or editions that cover other years, please visit the ideas4writers website. The 2014 and 2015 editions are currently available; the 2016 edition will be available in the autumn of 2014. Back issues from 2008 to 2013 are available on request in electronic format (PDF).

You can order online from the ideas4writers website, paying by credit/debit card or PayPal Order by post, paying by cheque, postal order or bank draft

The ideas4writers website is at: www.ideas4writers.co.uk

Our telephone number is: 01884 839577 (UK) or +44 1884 839577 (from outside the UK)

Our postal address is: ideas4writers, 2a New Street, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1HA, United Kingdom

Our email address is: [email protected]

Other books we have written

The Fastest Way to Write Your Book by Dave Haslett Paperback, 240 pages, ISBN: 978-0955011603 Available from ideas4writers (see above) or Amazon.co.uk Also available as an ebook from the ideas4writers website

The Fastest Way to Get Ideas – 4,400 Essential What Ifs for Writers by Dave Haslett Ebook, 240 pages, available from the ideas4writers website or Amazon’s Kindle store

How to Win Short Story Competitions by Dave Haslett and Geoff Nelder Ebook, 55 pages, available from the ideas4writers website or Amazon’s Kindle store

The ideas4writers website (www.ideas4writers.co.uk)

Inspiring the World’s Writers Since 2002 Ideas and inspiration, writing and publishing services, friendly forums, critiques, online writing engines (unique characters, names, plots and more with just a single click), exclusive articles, and much more. Includes more than 5,000 ready-made ideas you can use immediately or adapt as you wish.

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The Date-A-Base Book 2016 And lots more!